The rail freight industry has welcomed a pioneering service to help safeguard against future risks thanks to a project initiated by the Freight Safe Programme and delivered by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).

The Freight Emerging Risks Horizon Scanning service has been developed over 18 months and overseen by the Freight Safe Programme in partnership with RSSB. The service helps freight operating companies to identify, understand and consider their response to emerging risks such as cyber threats, global political instabilities and extreme weather events.

The Emerging Risks Horizon Scanning service delivers briefings on emerging risks, alongside practical support to help organisations interpret and use the information. It forms one of the Freight Safe Programme’s key priority workstreams, supported by freight operating companies, Network Rail, RSSB and other key stakeholders. 

The Emerging Risks Brief provides research and analysis on potential future challenges on a UK wide and global scale, a process to evaluate potential relevance and implications, and options for tracking and monitoring developments. The first Freight Emerging Risks Horizon Scanning Brief was released in September 2025, with 2026 marking the first full year of production.

Geoff Spencer, Chairman of the Freight Safe Programme, said: “In our fast paced world, global and more localised events can have a huge impact on our daily lives and businesses, including rail freight which delivers essential goods across the country. The Freight Safe Programme sees horizon scanning as an essential service in putting rail freight operating companies on the front foot, to enable them to prepare and plan for co-ordinated responses should an event outside of their control, such as a natural disaster, global instability or economic downturn, occur.”

Engagement with industry partners has been a central part of the Horizon Scanning Brief rollout by RSSB with introductory training and awareness workshops held with the National Freight Safety Group (NFSG), Rail Operations Group (ROG) and freight operating companies. This continued collaboration supports the programme’s long-term goal of embedding the ‘Horizon Scanning service’ as business-as-usual for the sector.

Guy Yeomans, Professional Head of Foresight and Horizon Scanning at Rail Safety and Standards Board, said: “We’ve worked in close collaboration with the Freight Safe Programme and individual freight operating companies (FOCs) to develop and bring the horizon scanning initiative to fruition. Based on the interest and relationships established, we look forward to continuing to support and enhance our collective effort to help FOCs embed and use emerging risks thinking into their safety, operational and organisational resilience thinking.”

Established in 2024, the Freight Safe Programme exists to drive continuous innovation in rail freight safety for the benefit of the industry and its customers.

More information about the service is available from Guy Yeomans at [email protected] with further details at www.rssb.co.uk/freight-horizon-scanning