Rail Safety Week 2025 has officially launched across the UK, marked by a powerful, unified commitment from the entire industry: to ensure every single person who uses, works on, or lives near the railway returns home safe – every single day.
This year’s campaign opens with a special podcast featuring Sir Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of Network Rail, in conversation with Will Rogers, Chair of Rail Forum and Managing Director at East Midlands Railway. Together, they delve into the personal, moral, and strategic responsibilities that form the bedrock of safety within today’s complex and ever-evolving rail landscape.
In the podcast, Sir Andrew articulates how “Everyone home safe every day” is far more than a mere slogan; he describes it as a “moral imperative.” This principle, he explains, applies equally to the 1.8 billion passengers the industry serves, the approximately 200,000 people working across the sector, and every member of the public who interacts with the railway.
Rail Safety Week 2025 arrives at a period of significant transformation for the sector. From operational changes and increasing demand to challenges such as workforce fatigue, mental wellbeing, and emerging technological risks, the rail industry is being called upon to lead with both innovation and a strong safety culture.
Sir Andrew and Will discuss how the sector is increasingly embracing advanced tools like geofencing, predictive diagnostics, and AI-enabled monitoring to proactively manage risk. Simultaneously, a people-first approach to safety is highlighting the growing importance of mental health, effective fatigue management, and fostering psychological safety. Building a culture of trust and confidence – where everyone feels empowered to speak up – is deemed fundamental to achieving lasting safety outcomes.
The upcoming establishment of Great British Railways is viewed as a generational opportunity to simplify operations, align incentives, and re-focus on core fundamentals, with safety at the forefront. Sir Andrew comments on how a more joined-up railway will enable better decision-making and create more rewarding jobs. He encourages aspiring safety leaders to embrace this chance to shape a modern, smarter, and safer railway for the future.
Will Rogers concludes the launch podcast with a clear call to action: “Let’s work together to build a better, safer railway for everyone.” Rail Safety Week is presented as a crucial time to reflect, engage, and act. Whether through depot safety initiatives, high-level boardroom conversations, or community outreach efforts, every action taken contributes to the overall goal.
To learn more and get involved, the public and industry professionals are encouraged to visit the Rail Safety Week website.
The Rail Safety Week podcast with Sir Andrew Haines and Will Rogers is available to watch online or can be listened to via preferred podcast platforms.
A special thanks has been extended to the Department for Transport for sponsoring the Rail Safety Week 2025 podcast series, helping to bring rail safety to the forefront of people’s minds throughout the dedicated week and beyond. The next instalment in the podcast series, featuring a conversation between Rail Forum’s Laura May and Modern Railways’ Richard Clinnick on Mental Health, is scheduled for launch tomorrow.
