OFFICIAL

Ref: NR/L2/RSE/100
Issue: 9
Date: 01 March 2025
Compliance date: 07 June 2025

Level 2

Manual

Network Rail Assurance Panel processes

Approvals

Content Approved by:

.....................................................................................................

Helen Mclean,
Standard Change Lead

Content approved by:

David Galloway,
Standard and Control Document Owner

Approved for publication by:

.....................................................................................................

Kerry Marchant,
Standards and Controls Management team

This document is the property of Network Rail. It shall not be reproduced in whole or part nor disclosed to a third
party without the written permission of Network Rail.
© Copyright 2025 Network Rail.

Uncontrolled copy once printed from its electronic source.

Published and Issued by Network Rail, Waterloo General Office, London, SE1 8SW.

[
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Ref: NR/L2/RSE/100
Issue: 9
Date: 01 March 2025
Compliance date: 07 June 2025

User information
This Network Rail document contains colour-coding according to the following Red–Amber–
Green classification.

Red requirements – no variations permitted

• Red requirements are to be complied with and achieved at all times.
• Red requirements are presented in a red box.
• Red requirements are monitored for compliance.
• Non-compliances will be investigated and corrective actions enforced.
Amber requirements – variations permitted subject to approved risk analysis and
mitigation
• Amber requirements are to be complied with unless an approved variation is in place.
• Amber requirements are presented with an amber sidebar.
• Amber requirements are monitored for compliance.
• Variations can only be approved through the national variations process.
• Non-approved variations will be investigated and corrective actions enforced.
Green guidance – to be used unless alternative solutions are followed
• Guidance should be followed unless an alternative solution produce s a better result.
• Guidance is presented with a dotted green sidebar.
• Guidance is not monitored for compliance.
• Alternative solutions should be documented to demonstrate effective control.

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Ref: NR/L2/RSE/100
Issue: 9
Date: 01 March 2025
Compliance date: 07 June 2025

Issue record
Issue Date Comments
01 03 December 2011 New standard. NR/L2/RSE/015, NR/L3/RSE/0001,
NR/L3/RSE/0002, NR/L2/EBM/029,
NR/L2/AMG/013 have been withdrawn and
included as modules. NR/L3/AMG/051 is no
longer needed and has been withdrawn.
02 02 June 2012 Module NR/L2/RSE/100/06 updated
03 05 December 2015 Updated to accommodate CSM RA legislation and
the latest amendments to the interoperability
directive. Amended to comply with devolved
organisation.
04 02 December 2017 Updated to remove reference to module
NR/L2/RSE/100/06 which has been withdrawn.
04 02 December 2017 Updated NR/L2/RSE/100/05, withdrawal of
NR/L2/RSE/100/06
05 01 June 2019 Updated NR/L2/RSE/100/07 and reference
documentation.
06 04 September 2021 Updated NR/L2/RSE/100/05

07 04 December 2021 Updated NR/L2/RSE/100/02 & NR/L2/RSE/100/03

& issued new guidance module
NR/L2/RSE/100/08
08 01 June 2024 Updated NR/L2/RSE/100/01 NR/L2/RSE/100/02,
NR/L2/RSE/100/03, NR/L2/RSE/100/04 &
NR/L2/RSE/100/07 and issued new modules
NR/L2/RSE/100/06 and NR/L2/RSE/100/09
09 01 March 2025 Updated NR/L2/RSE/100/05

Reference documentation

RIS-8270-RST Route Level Assessment of Technical Compatibility between

Vehicles and Infrastructure
RIS-2750-RST Rail Industry Standard on Supplier Assurance
NR/L2/HSS/020 Safety Validation of Organisational Change
NR/L2/RSE/02009 Engineering Management for Projects

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Ref: NR/L2/RSE/100
Issue: 9
Date: 01 March 2025
Compliance date: 07 June 2025

Compliance
This Network Rail standard/control document is mandatory and shall be complied with by Network
Rail Inf rastructure Limited and its contractors if applicable f rom 07 June 2025.
Where it is considered not reasonably practicable 1 to comply with the requirements in this
standard/control document, permission to comply with a specif ied alternative should be sought in
accordance with the Network Rail standards and controls process, or with the Railway Group
Standards Code if applicable.
If this standard/control document contains requirements that are designed to demonstrate compliance
with legislation they shall be complied with irrespective of a project’s Project Acceleration in a
Controlled Environment (PACE) phase or equivalent governance f ramework. In all other
circumstances, projects that have formally completed PACE strategic development & project selection
phase may continue to comply with any relevant Network Rail standards/control documents that were
current when PACE phase 1 was completed.
NOTE 1: Legislation includes National Technical Specification Notices (NTSNs)
NOTE 2: The relationship of this standard/control document with legislation and/or external standards
is described in the purpose of this standard.
NOTE 3: For more information on PACE see NR/L2/P3M/201.

Disclaimer
In issuing this standard/control document for use in connection with Network Rail business, Network
Rail Inf rastructure Limited makes no warranties, express or implied, that compliance with all or any
standards/control documents it issues is sufficient on its own to provide saf ety or compliance with
legislation. Users are reminded of their own duties under legislation and remain responsible at all
times f or assessing the suitability, adequacy and extent of any measures that they choose to
implement or adopt.
Compliance with a Network Rail standard/control document does not, of itself, conf er immunity f rom
legal obligations.
In the event that the standard/ control document has not been obtained directly f rom Network Rail’s
of ficial portal, please be aware that the document may not be the most up-to-date version; may have
been amended, withdrawn and/or replaced with a new stand ard/ control document.
Where Network Rail Inf rastructure Limited has granted permission to use Network Rail
standard/control documents or to copy extracts from Network Rail standards or control documents,
Network Rail Inf rastructure Limited accepts no responsibility for, nor any liability in connection with,
the use of such documents/extracts, or any claims arising theref rom.
This disclaimer applies to all f orms of media in which extracts f rom Network Rail standards and
control documents might be reproduced.
Supply
Copies of standards/control documents are available electronically, and f or f ree to third parties
working with Network Rail, from Network Rail’s Official Standards Portal, f ound via the Network Rail
website. Hard copies of this document may be available on request.
Network Rail standards/control documents can be used by third party organisations not working with
Network Rail, subject to internal approvals, by emailing the Network Rail Standards Team, the details
of which are available on the Network Rail Website. They may not be used for commercial purposes.
Third party organisations shall not otherwise be entitled to use any Intellectual Property belonging to
Network Rail without relevant prior written consent.

1
This can include gross proportionate project costs with the agreement of the Network Rail
Assurance Panel (NRAP).
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Ref: NR/L2/RSE/100
Issue: 9
Date: 01 March 2025
Compliance date: 07 June 2025

Contents
1 Purpose 6
2 Scope 6
3 Network Rail Assurance Panel processes contents 7

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Ref: NR/L2/RSE/100
Issue: 9
Date: 01 March 2025
Compliance date: 07 June 2025

1 Purpose
Network Rail Assurance Panel (NRAP) governs a number of Network Rail processes
on behalf of Network Rail’s Executive.
These processes help Network Rail comply with its statutory responsibilities and
Health and Safety Management System when a change is introduced that could
change the risk profile of Network Rail Infrastructure.
This standard sets out how NRAP carries out these responsibilities and delegates
authority to bodies and individuals within Network Rail.
The standard helps applicants to identify the correct process for their proposal.
NRAP governs a number of processes that provide appropriate review prior to
projects, products and vehicles being brought into service.

2 Scope
This standard specifies NRAP’s accountabilities and the processes it follows in order
to fulfil them.
It applies to anyone making an application:
a) to introduce new or changed vehicles on Network Rail Infrastructure, or
change where they operate (as defined by the authorised routes); or
b) that could affect the compatibility between vehicles and Network Rail
infrastructure; or
c) that is a change to Network Rail infrastructure; or the way it is operated or
maintained
NOTE: The scope of NRAP does not normally include maintenance of equipment, or equipment
replaced due to failure. This applies if approved equipment in pre-existing applications is used, that no
designs are produced and the configuration of NR infrastructure is unchanged.
d) to introduce new or changed products as part of Network Rail Infrastructure.
This applies even if the application will not be controlled or carried out by Network
Rail.
The risk management process under CSM-RA as defined in this module can be used
by the principal designer to discharge their duties under the CDM Regulations 2015.
The application of the CSM-RA Regulation to organisational change is not within
scope, this is covered by NR/L2/HSS/020 Safety Validation of Organisational
Change.
A combination of the NRAP governances processes and those in NR/L2/HSS/020
might be required for combined technical, operational and organisational changes. A
joint panel or SRP may need to be formed in these cases.

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Ref: NR/L2/RSE/100
Issue: 9
Date: 01 March 2025
Compliance date: 07 June 2025

3 Network Rail Assurance Panel processes contents

Table 1 identifies the parts of the Network Rail Assurance Panel processes manual,
their issue number and publication date.

Reference Title Issue Publication date

NR/L2/RSE/100/01 Network Rail Assurance 3 01 June 2024
Panel
NR/L2/RSE/100/02 Application of the 5 01 June 2024
Common Safety Method
for Risk Evaluation and
Assessment
NR/L2/RSE/100/03 The application of the 4 01 June 2024
interoperability regulations
for insfrastructure projects
NR/L2/RSE/100/04 Introduction of new or 3 01 June 2024
modified vehicles
NR/L2/RSE/100/05 Product acceptance and 5 01 March 2025
change to Network Rail
operational infrastructure
NR/L2/RSE/100/06 Compatibility of new or 1 01 June 2024
modified infrastructure
NR/L2/RSE/100/07 System Review Panels 4 01 June 2024
NR/L2/RSE/100/08 Guidance on the 1 04 December 2021
Application of the
Common Safety Method
for Risk Evaluation and
Assessment
NR/L2/RSE/100/09 Arrangements for safety 1 01 June 2024
assurance of asset
transfer
Table 1 – Modules of NR/L2/RSE/100

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Standard and control document briefing note

Ref: NR/L2/RSE/100 Issue: 9
Title: Network Rail Assurance Panel processes
Publication date: 01 March 2025 Compliance Date: 07 June 2025
Standard/Control Document Owner: Network Technical Head System Compatibility & TRS
Standard change lead/contact for briefings: David Galloway, Network Technical Head Tel: 07747 480 495
System Compatibility & TRS

Purpose: Scope:
Network Rail Assurance Panel (NRAP) governs a number of This standard specifies NRAP’s accountabilities and the
Network Rail processes on behalf of Network Rail’s Executive. processes it follows in order to fulfil them.
It applies to anyone making an application:
These processes help Network Rail comply with its statutory a) to introduce new or changed vehicles on Network Rail
responsibilities and Health and Safety Management System Infrastructure, or change where they operate (as
when a change is introduced that could change the risk profile defined by the authorised routes); or
of Network Rail Infrastructure.
b) that could affect the compatibility between vehicles and
This standard sets out how NRAP carries out these Network Rail infrastructure; or
responsibilities and delegates authority to bodies and c) that is a change to Network Rail infrastructure; or the
individuals within Network Rail. way it is operated or maintained
NOTE: The scope of NRAP does not normally include
The standard helps applicants to identify the correct process
maintenance of equipment, or equipment replaced due to failure.
for their proposal.
This applies if approved equipment in pre-existing applications is
used, that no designs are produced and the configuration of NR
NRAP governs a number of processes that provide appropriate infrastructure is unchanged.
review prior to projects, products and vehicles being brought
into service. d) to introduce new or changed products as part of
Network Rail Infrastructure.
This applies even if the application will not be controlled or
carried out by Network Rail.
The risk management process under CSM-RA as defined in this
module can be used by the principal designer to discharge their
duties under the CDM Regulations 2015.
The application of the CSM-RA Regulation to organisational
change is not within scope, this is covered by NR/L2/HSS/020
Safety Validation of Organisational Change.
A combination of the NRAP governances processes and those in
NR/L2/HSS/020 might be required for combined technical,
operational and organisational changes. A joint panel or SRP
may need to be formed in these cases.
What’s new, what’s changed and why:
Modifications to the module have been made as a result of the Product Acceptance Improvement Plan, and based on feedback
from stakeholders. The changes include a structured process for prioritising specific products in the PA process ; further information
on competence and data requirements; and further information on actions to take when an applicant can no longer support a
product.
Detail of change
Sub-clause 5.1 – addition to clause, where a product applicant is not also the asset manager, the support of the asset manager for
the acceptance of the product is required as part of an application .
Sub-clause 9.2 – the need to update or create competence frameworks and the need to update or develop data requirements
included in the assessment of evidence by the lead reviewer.
Sub-clause 11 – where a product which is on live trial and the applicant moves on or is not able to support the product, the clause
now includes the requirements for handing the responsibility over to prevent products on trial being orphaned.
Sub-clause 17 – new Sub-clause providing a process for prioritising products awaiting acceptance, review of the PA portfolio , and
guidance on pausing or cancelling applications.
Appendix E – Weather Resilience annex has been updated .
Affected documents
Reference Issue Impact Document type
NR/L2/RSE/100 8 Superseded Standard
NR/L2/RSE/100/05 4 Superseded Module
Briefing requirements:
Briefings are given to those who have specific responsibilities within, or are directly affected by, this standard/control document.
A copy of briefings may be available from the Standards & Controls intranet site or the Network Rail Standards & Controls Portal.
Requirements to cascade briefings are described within any implementation plans.

Briefing Role Responsible for

(O-Overview/ Function cascade briefing?
D-Detailed) Y/N
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D Network Technical Heads Technical Authority N

D Principal & Senior Engineers undertaking Lead Reviewer role Technical Authority N

D Product Acceptance Specialists Technical Authority N

O Chief Engineers Technical Authority N

O DEAMS Regions Y

O Functional & Regional SRP Chairs Regions N

O Capital Delivery Heads of Engineering Regions Y

O Director Fleet & Engineering Route Services Y

NOTE: Contractors are responsible for arranging and undertaking their own Detailed and Overview Briefings in accordance with their own processes
and procedures.