• This document must be read in conjunction with the Guideline 01: The Main Document, where all definitions and standards used in the set of guidelines and documents are provided.

• These abbreviations are for use in this document.

The purpose of this document is to define the general requirements necessary to ensure that the railways in the Kingdom have established appropriate emergency response plans and have the necessary preparations and arrangements to deal with any anticipated major emergency or foreseeable incidents, including:

• Any major accident or incident (including a train collision, derailment, fire, hazardous materials spill, acts of terrorism, cyberattacks, or malfunction and failure of other critical systems or power generation or information technology, etc.) or

• A natural disaster (such as major floods, winds, sandstorms, or any other major environmental or natural disaster, including disease outbreaks or epidemics).

The long-term goal of the Transport General Authority is to unify the approach to emergency response planning across the national railway sector.

The focus of the Transport General Authority is not only on the safety of the railways but also requires that the railways have qualified emergency plans to provide a rapid response and immediate and adequate intervention for any incidents that disrupt expected business operations by establishing policies and plans for business continuity and emergency response.

Therefore, it is essential to ensure cooperation with all local and national stakeholders so that railway transport services remain operational for the benefit of the public and the national economy.

The evidence and guidelines directed in this regard apply to all railway lines and other directed transport systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that seek or intend to obtain a railway operating license and a safety certificate.

Where the principles of emergency response planning and business continuity must form an integral part of the Safety Management System (SMS) and be applied throughout the duration of the project.

• The infrastructure networks and services in the Kingdom are continuously evolving and becoming increasingly complex and interconnected. The railway sector has a legal, ethical, and professional obligation and duty of care towards its employees, contractors, visitors, clients, and all those who engage with the daily operations of the railways.

• Therefore, it is essential to apply appropriate and consistent emergency response planning principles to the management of railway networks, given the significant importance of safety and security of the railways as well as the performance of the system. In addition to managing and operating the systems/railways safely and effectively, there are other benefits that include the following:

  • Meeting compliance requirements with laws, regulations, and other legal frameworks

  • Implementing risk management and safe working systems, and integrating people, equipment, materials, and the environment to produce an acceptable level of safety and security

  • Preventing and minimizing harm to the lowest practically possible extent that may be inflicted on people, infrastructure, the national economy, or the environment, or delaying and disrupting railway services and operations.

  • Assisting as much as practically possible in preventing and protecting railway users, transport facilities, and railway employees from any acts of sabotage, hostility, or terrorism, and maintaining public confidence in the safety and security of the railways

  • Ensuring the smooth, effective, and efficient execution of major incident responses in a coordinated manner

  • Facilitating the investigation of incidents and accidents

  • In order for the railway system to remain effective during an emergency, the arrangements for the railway service must be capable, as much as practically possible, of continuing to operate in an emergency, as long as it is necessary to perform its functions while considering the circumstances and risks they may face.

  • Enabling the railways to manage risks and improve their safety, security, and commercial performance

  • Focusing the organization/entity on providing safe and sound services valued by customers and funding providers

  • Improving safety and security systems to ensure that railway networks and systems operate as planned and intended, and also meet their safety and security objectives, thereby achieving their intended purpose.

The response to emergencies and business continuity planning are fundamental responsibilities of the company. This should form a key part of the company's strategy and be endorsed by all relevant stakeholders as part of regular and routine business planning activities. It should be referenced in the Railway Safety Management System SMS.

All emergency or security response plans must be developed, trained on, practiced, and tested with the participation of relevant local or national emergency services, including, where appropriate, civil defense, the Red Crescent, local hospitals, the High Commission for Industrial Security, the police, including traffic police, or the Saudi National Risk Unit, or local authorities, or any other government department as necessary or when appropriate.

Sensitive security information should only be shared with others who need to know the basis and through appropriate methods and permissions.

Business Continuity Plans BCP are also essential to ensure that the entity operates as much as possible in the event of the loss of the core component(s) or assets. This may include, but is not limited to, an epidemic affecting employees, loss of business liquidity, widespread communication system failure, or any other unforeseen circumstance that is not a railway emergency.

All parties responsible for operating and managing the railway must be clear about the responsibilities that fall upon them regarding the Emergency Response Plan (ERP). Railways must have plans to respond to any potential emergency in the most effective and efficient manner, and the Enterprise Resource Planning and Business Continuity Plans must be proportionate to the level of identified risks, the potential scope of incidents, and their severity.