Distance to rail, ID card and safety clothing
The formal rules that determine whether you are even allowed to move close to the tracks
A track area is not like an ordinary workplace. The rules for how close you can get to the rails what you must wear and who is even allowed to go in are laid down concretely and apply to everyone — including you when you have many years' experience. The rules exist because a train at high speed is impossible to react to if you notice it too late.
§4-metre limit
A central rule for work near busy tracks is about the distance to the nearest rail. If you are closer than 4 metres from the nearest rail, you must have a concrete reason or need to be there, be wearing correct safety clothing, be equipped with a credential card and be able to read and understand the safety instruction that applies to the work. In other words, it is not enough to 'just nip past' — any movement close to the track must have a reason and paperwork behind it.
- 01Specific errand or work task that requires travel close to the track
- 02Correct safety clothing at all times
- 03ID card that can be presented on request
- 04Ability to read and understand current safety instructions
§Safety clothing: not just yellow and orange
The warning clothing you wear in a rail area must comply with a recognized European standard for high-visibility work clothing, EN ISO 20471, in the highest visibility class, class 3. The standard sets requirements for how large an area of fluorescent background material and reflective tape the clothing must have so that you can be detected early enough — even in darkness, fog or bad weather — by a driver who cannot brake quickly.
§General behavior at busy tracks
Beyond the distance and equipment requirements, there are a number of basic behavioural rules for everyone working at or crossing busy tracks: never walk lengthwise on the tracks themselves, be constantly aware of whether a train might be coming, avoid anything that might distract you from train traffic, use established access routes where possible rather than walking straight across the rails, always look carefully, and keep your distance from vehicles and equipment even when they appear to be stationary.
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Under 4 meters from nearest rail. | Requirements for business purpose, safety clothing, identification card and understanding of instructions |
| Movement along the track | Avoid walking across—use established access roads. |
| Material that 'appears' to stand still | Always treat it as if it can move |
§The rules apply to everyone who comes near
The requirements for distance, clothing and identification are not only aimed at train clearers. They apply to everyone who has business close to the track — including external suppliers, tradespeople and contractors who need to do work on or near the infrastructure. Therefore, the infrastructure manager typically requires that suppliers and their employees have completed relevant safety courses before they even get access to the track area. The principle is the same whether you are newly qualified or have many years of experience: no one gets close to the track without documented training and a specific business purpose.
§Why such fixed rules?
The rules are not bureaucracy for bureaucracy's sake. They are a systematic way to eliminate randomness from a workplace where the consequences of one wrong decision are serious. By making the requirements concrete and measurable – 4 metres, class 3, ID card – it becomes clear to both yourself and your colleagues whether the rules are being followed, rather than depending on a subjective sense of what's 'probably safe enough'.
“A rule you can measure — like 4 meters or class 3 — is harder to argue away than a rule that just says 'be careful'.”