The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) have accredited CORREL Rail Limited as a Railway Industry Approved Body (RISAB) under the new Railway Industry Supplier Approval Scheme (RISAS). The new Scheme encourages quality, safety and reliability improvement in the railway industry supply chain.

RISABs are required to demonstrate a thorough appreciation of key issues in the areas of risk within the rail environment. This includes having the appropriate technical and assessment competences. The assessment of suppliers is comprehensive and focussed on the specialised nature of the rail industry’s requirements.

Ian Papworth, Chair of the RISAS Board commented, “I am delighted to announce the accreditation of CORREL Rail Limited as one of the very first RISABs and also the approval of Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems. This demonstrates that both companies’ have true commitment to quality, safety and reliability within the rail industry and are giving their total support to the Railway Industry Supplier Approval Scheme.”

Nigel Bean, Managing Director CORREL Rail Ltd added “Independence, competency and rigour are the three highest priority requirements to the success of any industry wide assurance scheme such as RISAS. We were pleased to be a partner developing the scheme, for these are watchwords in all the certification and assurance roles we undertake in the industry. I am particularly delighted at the initial response from TOCs and ROSCOs and believe that this scheme can make a difference to the industry“

The first company, in turn, to be approved under the Scheme by CORREL Rail Limited, is Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK Limited who is now an Approved Supplier for the overhaul of rail braking equipment. Paul Johnson, Managing Director of Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems (UK) Limited (KBRS) said, “KBRS are pleased to be one of the first companies in the UK to gain the Approved Supplier Certification. Within the new railway industry Supplier Approval Scheme we have been formally recognised for our commitment to quality and safety. This recognition provides further assurance to our customers of our technical competence and the ability of KBRS to deliver reliable and safe products and systems.”

Both CORREL and Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems have been involved in RISAS and in working towards compliance with the high standards of the scheme. Successful pilot assessments were run at the beginning of 2006 and following these, full accreditation was awarded to CORREL in June and approval to Knorr-Bremse in July.