This document must be read in conjunction with Guideline 01: as the main document addresses all definitions and standards used in the set of documents and guidelines.

The purpose of this evidence is to provide licensed railway operators and others with the necessary guidelines and instructions regarding their obligations when handling hazardous materials upon receipt, handling, transportation, storage, and shipping.

This evidence applies to all operations of railway lines and other directed transport systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that transport or handle shipments and consignments of hazardous goods.

Hazardous goods are defined as those specified in the regulation concerning the international transport of hazardous goods by rail (RID), which constitutes Appurtenance C of the International Convention for the Transport of Goods by Rail (1999) COTIF, and are simply described as those hazardous goods that can pose a significant risk to health, safety, or the environment when transported by railway services.

This evidence excludes materials that are not transported and delivered by rail and are purchased solely for the purpose of use by railway authorities and institutions as part of their operations, such as diesel fuel for locomotives or cleaning chemicals.

This evidence does not address the security requirements for the transport of hazardous goods. Licensees are required to first comply with the requirements issued by the High Commission for Industrial Security (HCIS) or other specialized agencies as required before working to obtain operating licenses from the Transport General Authority.

The United Nations has a framework of agreements, regulations, and rules related to the transfer of hazardous goods through various means, as outlined below. This guide is in accordance with the International Regulations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID). Although this guide applies to international traffic, the principles contained herein extend to the transfer of hazardous goods in general within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The International Regulations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID) contain the international definitions for the cargo sender "consignor" and the cargo recipient "consignee," as well as definitions for units of measurement for hazardous goods.

Form

Licensees are not permitted to handle hazardous goods or receive them as goods, or transfer, store, or redirect them (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Transfer"), unless they have specific approvals from the Transport General Authority ("the Authority") as mentioned in their operating license and the safety certificate issued to them regarding the provision of railway services.

As for a specific and exceptional case in the process of transferring such materials, prior permission from the Authority is required as outlined in Guide 06: Change Management and Control using Form X1.

Moreover, transferring hazardous goods without prior permission and approval from the Authority constitutes a violation of the law and the railway transport regulations, necessitating legal action. Additionally, some shipments of hazardous goods may require permits or other requirements that fall under various laws, jurisdictions, and authorities; in such cases, full compliance with the laws or requirements of other entities is also required, and the Authority will not be responsible for identifying the laws or other requirements applicable to individual goods or commodities, which is the responsibility of the licensee.