Rail Transport (RID)

Rail freight has increased by 50% since 1994, with a government target to increase by 80% within ten years, and now accounts for 12% of the total surface freight in the UK. Intermodal traffic has been growing steadily at around 10 per cent per annum since 2002 to 2009.

So, naturally there has also been an increase in the volume of Dangerous Goods transported by rail, the large bulk of which, as with road, being petroleum and other refinery products and miscellaneous chemicals in ISO shipping containers. Rail can often be cheaper than the equivalent road haulage operation, due to volume and distance economies. A typical freight train moves the equivalent of 40-70 LGV loads, whilst only releasing 25% of the equivalent carbon emissions.

Transport by rail is governed in the UK by the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations and it's Europe-wide counterpart; Reglement concernant le transport International ferroviare des merchandises Dangereuses par chemin de fer (RID).

RID is the part of the Intergovernmental Convention for International Carriage by Rail (COTIF). COTIF concerns the movement of passengers and goods by rail across national borders. It controls the conditions under which that transit is undertaken, and establishes a uniform system of law in order to facilitate the continuing development of international rail traffic.

As with road, rail operations are also required to be covered by a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA). At RoadSafe Europe Limited, we are one of the few organisations who can offer a rail DGSA consultancy service, or training courses.

Full details can be found by visiting the DGSA training page by clicking the DGSA tab on the links bar above.

Tel: 02380 702576 or, [email protected]