Modern railways have moved a long way from the slow, noisy, polluting and poor safety record of their predecessors to offer speed, comfort, convenience and enhanced safety. This is largely driven by the incorporation of many modern innovations into the infrastructure, rolling stock and operations comprising advanced computing onboard and trackside, high-speed communications, energy-efficient traction systems, and new track materials.
These evolutionary changes have rendered railways a highly attractive mode of transportation in today’s world, and which calls for world-class safety standards. There is no denying that railway safety is of great importance - the safety of passengers, employees working on the trains, stations, and tracks, the users of level crossings and the residents in the vicinity of the railway.