An Analysis of Safety Culture in Rail Transportation: The Role of Organizational Interfaces and the Application of the Safetrack Method

Abstract

The liberalization of European rail transport and the increasing interoperability have created new challenges in maintaining safety, particularly at the points of connection (interfaces) between different organizations. The aim of this study is to examine the role of safety culture in rail systems, with a particular focus on organizational and international cooperation.

The research is based on a review of the theoretical frameworks of safety culture, as well as the presentation and evaluation of the Safetrack method developed by the UIC and SINTEF. The method employs a questionnaire-based survey, scenario-based analysis, and a STEP-based accident investigation approach to measure and improve safety culture.

The study highlights that a significant portion of safety risks stems from differences in organizational cultures and communication gaps, particularly during cross-border operations. Based on the experiences from the pilot application developed, most organizations are at an intermediate level between a calculative and a proactive safety culture, where the development of learning processes and feedback mechanisms is crucial.

This study contributes to an interface-based interpretation of railway safety culture and presents a methodological framework that supports the development of safety management and the strengthening of international cooperation.