Approved Codes of Practice and Guidance Notes
The Rail Delivery Group issue Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs), Guidance Notes (GNs) and Good Practice Guides (GPGs) on behalf of the industry.
Jump to a section
If you have any queries about these documents please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for support.
Fleet Engineering & New Technology
Future versions of the Key Train Requirements will be managed and hosted by RSSB. When the next version of this document is published it will be hosted on the following RSSB webpage: https://www.rssb.co.uk/standards/where-do-we-use-standards/rolling-stock/key-train-requirements
20 Point Plan
| Document | Date | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Point Plan | July 2025 | Fleet Management Good Practice Guide - Main Document | Issue 16.1 | Download |
| 20 Point Plan | January 2021 | Fleet Management Good Practice Concise Version | Download |
GUIDANCE NOTES
| Document | Date | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| EG/GN005 | April 2018 | On Train GPS/Darwin Interface specification | Issue 2 | Download |
| RDG-ENG-GN-008 | October 2024 | New Trains - A Good Practice Guide | Issue 3.3 | Download |
| RDG-ENG-GN-009 | March 2025 |
Depot Performance Handbook – A Good Practice Guide | Issue 2.1 |
Download |
| RDG/GN/GSM-R/001 | January 2017 | Managing GSM-R Train Radio | Issue 2 | Download |
| RDG-ETCS-GN-001 | January 2020 | L-NTC Principle Considerations for Driver Training | Issue 3 | Download |
| RDG-ETCS-GN-002 | January 2020 | L2 & L3 ETCS Principle Considerations for Driver Training | Issue 3 | Download |
| RDG/GN/NTI/001 | December 2017 | Delivering Good Schemes - ETCS | Issue 1 | Download |
| RDG/GN/NTI/003 | September 2017 | ETCS Commercial Arrangements (by request only) | Issue 1 | |
| RDG-ETCS-GN-005 | March 2020 | ETCS On-board Equipment (by request only) | Issue 2 | |
| RDG-GN/NTI/015 | September 2017 | Managing ERTMS Performance | Issue 2 | Download |
Operations
APPROVED CODES OF PRACTICE
| Document | Date | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDG-OPS-ACOP-001 | June 2021 | Joint Industry Provision of Humanitarian Response Following a Major Passenger Rail Incident | Issue 17 | Download |
| RDP-OPS-ACOP-004 | July 2022 | Incident Response - Duties of Primary Support Operators | Issue 5 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-ACOP-008 | March 2025 |
Rail Emergency Management - Governance | Issue 2 |
Download |
| RDG-OPS-ACOP-009 | March 2025 |
Rail Emergency Management - Anticipation, Assessment & Prevention | Issue 2 |
Download |
| RDG-OPS-ACOP-010 | June 2024 | Rail Emergency Management - Preparation | Issue 1.2 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-ACOP-011 | June 2024 | Rail Emergency Management- Response | Issue 1.1 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-ACOP-012 | June 2024 | Rail Emergency Management - Recovery | Issue 1.1 | Download |
| ACOP012 | October 2016 | Driver Manpower Monitoring (by request only) | Issue 5 | |
| ACOP014 | October 2016 | Provision of Passenger Information | Issue 2 | Download |
| ACOP016 | April 2017 | Incident Response Duties of Primary Support Operators | Issue 4 | Download |
| ACOPSR2013 | November 2013 | Contingency Planning for Train Service Recovery - Service Recovery 2013 | Issue 1 | Download |
GUIDANCE NOTES
| Document | Date | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLU/GN001 | October 2019 | Contingency Planning Arrangements for a Flu Pandemic |Issue 4 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-001 | September 2020 | Use of Data Recorders |Issue 5 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-003 | September 2021 | The Training of On-Train Staff in On-Train Emergency Procedures |Issue 9 | Download |
| RDG-OPs-GN-011 | February 2023 | Emergency Planning - Knowledge, Understanding and Responsibilities |Issue 4 | Download |
| RDG-OPs-GN-012 | August 2022 | Planning For and Responding to National Fuel Shortages |Issue 23 | Download |
| GN014 | October 2017 | Major Incidents - Preparation of Aide-Mémoires for Senior Managers |Issue 3 | Download |
| RDG-GN015 | June 2023 | Extreme Weather Arrangements including Failure or Non-Availability of On-Train Environment Control Systems |Issue 4 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-016 | July 2024 | Competence of Train Operator Liaison Officers (TOLOs) |Issue 5 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-017 | July 2022 | Competence of Station Incident Officers (SIOs) |Issue 4 | Download |
| RDG-GN018 | November 2017 | Responding to Ill Customers on Trains |Issue 2 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-019 | October 2020 | Developing Train Driving Policies Aligned with Non-Technical Skills |Issue 3 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-022 | October 2019 | Safe Management of Pushchairs and Wheelchairs on Station Platforms| Issue 2 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-023 | July 2022 | Checklist for Major Incident Response| Issue 3 | Download |
| RDG-GN025 | April 2025 |
Post Incident Management of Personal Property | Issue 4 |
Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-026 | August 2022 | Planning for Special Events| Issue 3 | Download |
| GN030 | January 2016 | Developing ICT Capabilities| Issue 1 | Download |
| GN033 | April 2016 | Station incident Response Planning| Issue 1 | Download |
| GN034 | February 2025 |
Logging and Loggists | Issue 3 |
Download |
| GN036 | May 2016 | Risks & Opportunities from ROCs and TM (by request only)| Issue 1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-037 | July 2022 | Contingency Planning for Power Outages (by request only)| Issue 2 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-038 | February 2023 | Data Protection Requirements During and After Incidents| Issue 4 | Download |
| RDG-GN039 | April 2017 | Social Media Response to Major Incidents and Disruptive Events (by request only)| Issue 2 | |
| RDG-GN040 | May 2019 | Delivering Good Schemes - Conventional Resignalling| Issue 2 | Download |
| RDG-GN044 | July 2018 | Proposals to Reduce Permissible Speed Restrictions| Issue 1 | Download |
| RDG-GN046 | November 2019 | Post Incident Social Media Capabilities (by request only)| Issue 1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-049 | December 2024 |
Meeting the Needs of Passengers Stranded on Trains | Issue 6 |
Download |
| GN CCTV | October 2015 | National Rail & Underground CCTV| Issue 4 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-051 | July 2024 | Traincrew Resource Planning and Management: End-to-End Process (by request only)| Issue 2 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-052 | July 2024 | Strategic Planning and Forecasting for Traincrew (by request only)| Issue 2.1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-053 | July 2024 | Workforce Planning for Traincrew (by request only)| Issue 2.1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-054 | July 2024 | Traincrew Diagram Production (by request only)| Issue 2.1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-055 | July 2024 | Creation of Base Roster, Linking and Fatigue Management (by request only)| Issue 3.1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-056 | July 2024 | Establishment Calculation (by request only)| Issue 4.1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-057 | July 2024 | Negotiating and Writing Agreements (by request only)| Issue 1.1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-058 | July 2024 | Short-Term Deployment of Traincrew (by request only)| Issue 2.1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-059 | July 2024 | Measuring and Managing Traincrew Productivity (by request only)| Issue 2 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-060 | April 2023 | Measuring the Availability and Productivity of Traincrew (by request only)| Issue 2 - This document has been withdrawn. | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-061 | July 2024 | Training, Competence and Development for the Supporting Cast for Drivers (by request only)| Issue 2 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-062 | July 2024 | Traincrew Resource Management Assurance (by request only)| Issue 2.1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-063 | January 2023 | Critical Incident Management (by request only) |Issue 1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-064 | March 2025 |
Rail Emergency Management - Legal and Regulatory Register | Issue 2 Please review the guidance first. The associated register can be found here |
Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-065 | October 2023 | ICT Maturity Assessment Criteria & Process |Issue 1 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-067 | October 2023 | Body Worn Video Approach to Adoption | Issue 1 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-068 | August 2024 | Control room resourcing and establishment (by request only) |Issue 1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-069 | October 2024 | Conditions of Service & Working Arrangements (by request only) |Issue 1 | |
| RDG-OPS-GN-071 | March 2025 |
Rail Emergency Management – Effective Please review the guidance first. The associated framework can be found here |
Download |
| RDG-OPS-GN-072 | March 2025 |
Rail Emergency Management – Self-Assessment Tool Guidance | Issue 1 Please review the guidance first. The associated model can be found here |
Download |
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDES
| Document | Date | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPG005 | December 2011 | Controller Recruitment, Training & Competence | Issue 2 - UNDER REVIEW | Download |
| GPG014 | October 2006 | De-icing Agents for On Station Use | Download |
| GPG049 | August 2025 | Planning for and Responding to Passengers Stranded on Trains Issue 1 | Download |
Other
| Document | Date | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSPS | August 2024 | Timetable Comparator Service - Commercial Policies | Download |
| ATOC/OITC2015 | November 2015 | Operational Planning and Implementation of Timetable Change | Issue 1 | Download |
| AWG | May 2024 | Managing Low Adhesion | Issue 7 | Download |
| RDG/NTF/DoRPM | October 2017 | Definitions of Railway Performance Metrics | Issue 2.2 | Download |
| OPS/GPG/99 | June 2017 | Operational Readiness for Delivery of Significant Engineering Works | Issue 1 | Download |
| RDG-CONOPS/NTI/001 | August 2017 | Concept of Operations - Connected Driver Advisory Systems (C-DAS) | Issue 1 | Download |
| RDG-CONOPS/NTI/002 | January 2021 | Concept of Operations - Stock and Crew Systems | Issue 1.1 | Download |
| RDG-CSC/NTI/001 | July 2018 | Common System Capabilities - Stock and Crew System | Issue 1 | Download |
| RDG-T&FG/NTI/001 | May 2019 | Crew and Stock Systems - Task and Finish Group Final Technical Report | Issue 1 | Download |
| RDG-OPS-BWV | March 2022 | Body Worn Video Use | Issue 1 | Download |
| February 2024 | GB Rail Approach to Hot Weather Management | Issue 2 | Download | |
| May 2024 | GB Rail Industry Approach to Railhead Adhesion Management | Issue 2 | Download | |
| August 2023 | GB Rail Industry Approach to Cold Weather Management | Download |