Rail vehicles require a certificate of Engineering Acceptance in order to operate over Network Rail.

Railway Approvals Limited (RAL) is approved by RSSB (Rail Safety & Standards Board) as a Conformance Certification Body (CCB) and Vehicle Acceptance Body (VAB) to undertake conformity assessment and certification of rail vehicles. VAB work is carried out in accordance Railway Group Standard GM/RT2000 and supporting guidance document PS 305/4.

RAL's approval to issue certificates covers the following vehicle types

• Multiple Units
• Locomotives
• Coaches
• Freight
• On-Track machines
  
• Road-Rail/ Rail-Mounted Maintenance Machines
  
• International vehicles
  

Certificates can be issued in the following areas:

• Engineering Acceptance (including transit movements)
  
• Design conformance
  
• Build Conformance (Construction)
  
• Maintenance Plan Conformance
  

Details of RAL's VAB scope, including the signatory status of each of our certification engineers, is maintained by RSSB and advised to the industry, updating as necessary.