Regulations
Specific transport regulations are formulated for each dangerous substance. These regulations cover the design and materials of the tank wagons, periodic tank inspections, packaging, documentation, staff training, inspections during transport, etc., and are laid down in the RID (Règlement concernant le transport International ferroviaire de marchandises Dangereuses).
Every railway undertaking within the European Union that transports dangerous goods is required to have a safety advisor who holds a European diploma. Additional Dutch regulations are laid down in the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Act and the accompanying implementation decrees.
Before a railway undertaking receives the endorsement of dangerous goods on its safety certificate, the Inspectorate assesses whether this is properly regulated within the company.
Alongside transport regulations, an environmental permit tailored to the local situation applies to the railway yard in which the dangerous goods will be shunted. The infrastructure administrator is the holder of this permit.
This set of national and international regulations is continually expanded in an attempt to maximise safety when transporting dangerous goods – a development in which the Netherlands is actively involved.
The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate see to it that the transport of dangerous goods by rail satisfies these regulations. If anything goes wrong, they advise the emergency services about emergency measures, as well as investigating the circumstances and where the responsibility lies.