Rail Safety Week and why it’s important
Britain’s railway is statistically one of the safest in Europe. However, safe does not mean risk-free.
In the last year alone, 24 people lost their lives in preventable railway incidents, a five-year high. Near misses and operational risks remain prevalent, with the majority of incidents linked to human behaviour and decision-making.
For rail operators, this highlights a critical issue. While infrastructure and systems are essential, many incidents ultimately depend on the awareness, judgement, and reaction of frontline staff.
With 29 high-potential risk events reported across the network and increasing Signals Passed at Danger (SPAD) events, the need for a workforce that is medically fit, alert, and properly supported is non-negotiable.
What is Rail Safety Week?
Rail Safety Week is an annual awareness campaign dedicated to highlighting the importance of safety across rail networks. This year it takes place from 15th to 21st June, includes a rail safety conference, and involves 250 organisations. The campaign brings together train operating companies, infrastructure owners, government bodies and occupational health providers to reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities.
Why is Rail Safety Week important?
Rail Safety Week is important because it shifts the focus from reacting to incidents to preventing them before they occur.
With thousands of miles of track and millions of passenger journeys each day, even a small lapse in concentration or decision-making can have serious consequences for both operations and safety.
For rail operators, this highlights a critical point. While systems, processes, and infrastructure are essential, safe outcomes ultimately depend on a workforce that is alert, medically fit, and able to make the right decisions in safety-critical environments.
What are the issues in rail safety and how can operators tackle them?
Key challenges in rail safety today include mental health pressures on staff, drug and alcohol misuse, fatigue management, and the increasing complexity of new infrastructure such as HS2.
For operators, managing these risks requires a structured approach, combining robust workforce standards, regular medical assessments, compliance with industry requirements, and clear processes for identifying and addressing risk before it leads to incidents.
Occupational health plays a critical role in supporting this. At Express Medicals, this includes delivering specialist rail medical assessments, targeted drug and alcohol testing, and Employee Assistance Programmes, supported by practitioners with extensive experience in the rail sector and the specific demands of safety-critical roles.
The hidden risks: Mental health and wellbeing on the railway
When people think of rail safety, they picture signals, barriers, and protective equipment. But safe outcomes also depend on the person operating the train or working trackside at 2am.
Mental health directly impacts concentration, reaction times, and decision-making. In safety-critical roles, even a small lapse can have serious consequences.
That’s why mental health and wellbeing are increasingly recognised as a core part of rail safety.
Organisations must move beyond tick-box compliance. At Express Medicals, this includes Employee Assistance Programmes providing 24/7 access to professional counselling, as well as training for both line managers and employees to help identify early warning signs, manage challenges, and access the right support before they impact safe performance.
Tackling drug and alcohol misuse in rail head-on
Substance-related impairment remains one of the most immediate risks to rail safety.
Effective management requires more than testing alone. Operators need processes that are reliable, responsive, and fully aligned with industry requirements, ensuring issues are identified quickly and acted on without disruption to operations.
At Express Medicals, this includes random, post-incident and for-cause drug and alcohol testing, with results uploaded directly to Sentinel to support compliance, reduce downtime, and maintain safe access to the network.
How Express Medicals supports rail safety every day
Railway medicine is a specialist field, with different roles requiring tailored assessments based on the level of risk and responsibility involved.
At Express Medicals, we support operators by ensuring safety-critical staff are medically fit, alert, and able to perform without delays to operations.
This is delivered through a nationwide network of 18 clinics, with same or next-day availability where required, allowing workers to be assessed quickly and maintain access to the network.
With 99% of safety-critical medical results returned within one working day, operators can minimise downtime, maintain compliance, and keep projects moving safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rail Safety Week?
Rail Safety Week is an annual UK campaign to raise awareness of rail safety for workers and the public, reducing accidents through education and proactive health measures.
Why are Rail Medical Assessments important?
Rail Medical Assessments ensure safety-critical staff are physically and mentally fit for their specific roles, reducing the risk of incidents caused by medical events or impairment.
How does drug testing help rail safety?
Drug testing deters and identifies substance misuse, ensuring no impaired worker operates trains or accesses the track. Results direct to Sentinel streamline compliance.
What is the Network Rail Competence-Specific Medical (formerly PTS)?
The Network Rail Competence-Specific Medical is a medical assessment required for anyone working on or near the track, covering vision, hearing, general health, and substance status.
What is railway medicine?
Railway medicine is a specialist branch of occupational health focusing on the unique physical and mental demands of rail safety-critical roles, delivered by ORR-registered practitioners.
How can occupational health improve wellbeing on the railway?
Express Medicals’ occupational health services improve wellbeing with Employee Assistance Programmes, mental health screening, fatigue management advice, and confidential counselling for rail staff.
Which rail medicals do you offer?
Train Driver, HS2, DLR, Irish Rail, Train Movements, London Underground, and Network Rail PTS medicals, plus alcohol and drug testing.
Why choose Express Medicals for rail services?
Express Medicals has 30 years of occupational health experience in the rail industry, ORR-registered doctors, results direct to Sentinel, and a complete range of occupational health and wellbeing services.
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