Rail Plant Association (RPA).
Advocating for construction plant owners, hirers, and suppliers operating within the railway infrastructure.
Let’s work together
Rail Plant Association (RPA)
What is the RPA?
The Rail Plant Association Limited (RPA) was established in 1999 and brings together UK-based rail plant hirers, plant operating companies, manufacturers and providers of specialist services to the rail industry.
The RPA is governed by an elected Management Committee made up of owners, managers and other company representatives from within the membership. This means that the members’ needs are always put first when changes occur within the rail industry.
Membership Benefits
The benefits of full membership include:
- Use of The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) services. (See Full Membership)*
- Use of CPA model conditions and RPA supplementary conditions regarding the hire of plant. (See Full Membership)*
- Experienced staff to provide support, deal with your questions regarding road-rail plant requirements, legal issues, training and competency.
- Access to RPA Road Rail Maintenance and Repair Competency Standards.
- Up-to-date information on a range of industry requirements is frequently circulated to RPA members and is available from the RPA website.
- Representation of our members’ interests – we are working in a continually evolving marketplace, and you can be guaranteed that wherever the process involves the use of plant within the rail industry, the RPA will ensure we have representation, giving our membership a presence and voice that can be heard, and will be listened to.
Mission Statement
“To provide members with the latest industry information and support which enables them to remain compliant whilst supplying the highest quality service to their customers in a safe and timely manner.”
Rail Plant Association (RPA)
How do I join?
Full Membership
If you wish to apply for Full Membership, your Company must be a member of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA). For further details on the full range of benefits of becoming a CPA member, please see our CPA membership section. call 020 7796 3366 or email enquiries@cpa.uk.net.
There is a subscription fee for Full RPA Membership which is payable annually in addition to the CPA membership subscription.
Associate Membership
For those who wish to have access to some of the benefits without becoming full members, we also have an associate membership package. Associate Membership is suited to companies who have a vested interest in the rail plant-hire sector but are not directly involved in the hiring of plant and equipment (e.g. OEMs/Machine Converters, Maintenance / Servicing providers, Software Solutions companies, Plant Training Services etc).
RPA Associate Membership is included as part of the CPA Platinum Corporate Package.
Associate membership entitles the company to use the full services of the RPA and CPA with the exception of the use of the CPA model conditions and RPA Terms & Conditions 2023.
If you have any questions regarding CPA Platinum Corporate Package/RPA Associate Membership, please email rpa@cpa.uk.net or call 020 7796 3366.
RPA members are represented on the following industry bodies:
- M&EE Networking Group<
- Infrastructure Safety Liaison Group (ISLG)
- RSSB rail industry standards drafting groups
- Sentinel
- RISQS<
RPA are in regular dialogue and consultation with both Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
Rail Plant Association (RPA)
Rail Plant Association News .
| Image | Title | Summary | Categories | Link | hf:doc_categories | hf:doc_tags | hf:file_type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | M&EE & RPA-OTP OPERATOR PROFESSIONAL DRIVING GUIDANCE-ISSUE 2–JANUARY 2026 | The OTP Operator Professional Driving Guidance has been developed by the M&EE Networking Group and the Rail Plant Association. The instructions within this guidance prescribe the professionalism and driving techniques to be applied by OTP operators. They have been developed using industry best practice and enhanced to the specific nature of OTP operations. | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents | |||
 | Rail Infrastructure Article – July 2025 | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news | ||||
| Rail Infrastructure Article – May 2025 | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news | ||||
 | RPA 0006 – RPA Guidance for Haulier Companies – Updated 3rd September 2025 | A sub-group of the Rail Plant Association have reviewed and updated the haulier good practice documentation for the delivery and collection of On-Track Plant (OTP), general mobile plant and associated attachments. This updated document supersedes RPA 0006 – Issue 1 & RPA 0009 – Issue 1. | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents | |||
| Rail Infrastructure Article – March 2025 | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news | ||||
| Rail Infrastructure Article – December 2024 | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news | ||||
| Rail Infrastructure Article – September 2024 | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news | ||||
| Rail Infrastructure Article – July 2024 | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news | ||||
| Rail Infrastructure Article – May 2024 | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news | ||||
| Rail Infrastructure Article – January 2024 | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news |
Rail Plant Association (RPA)
RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents.
| Image | Title | Summary | Categories | Link | hf:doc_categories | hf:doc_tags | hf:file_type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Good Practice Guide for Delivery Point Management | This document details guidance for all Stakeholders for the delivery and collection of OTP, Civils Plant and associated equipment to the rail infrastructure. This Guidance Document can be applied to • All delivery and collection activities involving plant, OTP, trailers, attachments, and equipment. • All delivery points, whether temporary or semi‑permanent. • All employees, subcontractors, haulage providers, and client representatives involved in delivery point activities. | Rail Plant Association, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents | |||
| M&EE & RPA-OTP OPERATOR PROFESSIONAL DRIVING GUIDANCE-ISSUE 2–JANUARY 2026 | The OTP Operator Professional Driving Guidance has been developed by the M&EE Networking Group and the Rail Plant Association. The instructions within this guidance prescribe the professionalism and driving techniques to be applied by OTP operators. They have been developed using industry best practice and enhanced to the specific nature of OTP operations. | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents | |||
 | RPA 0008 – Good Practice Risk Assessment – Managing an Exhibition or Show | This RPA Risk Assessment Template is provided to assist Members exhibiting products and services at exhibitions and shows. | Rail Plant Association, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents | |||
| RPA 0006 – RPA Guidance for Haulier Companies – Updated 3rd September 2025 | A sub-group of the Rail Plant Association have reviewed and updated the haulier good practice documentation for the delivery and collection of On-Track Plant (OTP), general mobile plant and associated attachments. This updated document supersedes RPA 0006 – Issue 1 & RPA 0009 – Issue 1. | Rail Plant Association, Rail Plant Association News, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rail-plant-association-news rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents | |||
 | RPA 0005 – Good Practice Guide for POS Rep Competence | A sub-group of the Rail Plant Association have looked at On-track Plant Operations Scheme (POS) Representative Competence requirements. The Rail Plant Association recommends this document as good practice for the industry. The Good Practice Guide gives the minimum requirements for On-track Plant Operations Scheme (POS) Representative Competence and is applicable for the selection, training, mentoring, assessment and development of competence for POS Representatives. | Rail Plant Association, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents | |||
 | RPA 0003 – Good Practice Guide for Safe Replenishing of Fluids on On-track and Civils Plant | A sub-group of the Rail Plant Association have, in light of reported incidents, looked at the activity of refuelling mobile plant. The mobile plant types range from On-track Plant (OTP) to Civils plant. To help reduce incidents whilst undertaking this or other fluid replenishment activities, the Rail Plant Association recommends this document as good practice for the industry. Download | Rail Plant Association, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents | |||
| The RPA Rail Plant Maintenance & Repair Competency Assessment 2016 – Issue | The RPA Rail Plant Maintenance & Repair Competency Assessment 2016 – Issue 3 is now available to purchase from the RPA Office. The RPA RPMRCA 2016 is priced at: £250.00 – RPA Members £500.00 – Non RPA Members The RPA Rail Plant Maintenance & Repair Competency Assessment 2016 includes: RPA RPMRCA 2016 – Assessor Guidance Document RPA RPMRCA 2016 – Candidate Copy RPA RPMRCA 2016 – Assessor Copy To order your copy please email a purchase order to rpa@cpa.uk.net | Rail Plant Association, RPA Good Practice Guidance Documents | rail-plant-association rpa-good-practice-guidance-documents |
RPA0002 – Good Practice Guide for On-Track Plant Operations Scheme (POS) Site Documentation.
This Good Practice Guide details the minimum OTP Workplan site documentation required when working under the Network Rail On-track Plant Operations Scheme to be used by POS Representatives and Machine/Crane controllers.
It covers activities carried out by on track plant (OTP) and civil construction plant (where appropriate)
Documentation included in this Good Practice Guide can be downloaded below:
The Documentation does not include:
1a – Site diagrams – These should be provided by the Principal Contractor
1d – Site bar chart – This should be provided by the Principal Contractor to Highlight high risk plant activities
8 – ALO Plan – This should be provided by the Principal Contractor
10b – Lift Plans – This should be provided by the Principal Contractor
12 – Close Call report sheets – This should be provided by the Principal Contractor
13 b – Contingency Arrangements – This should be provided by the Principal Contractor
Rail Plant Association (RPA)
RPA Conditions.
| Image | Title | Summary | Categories | Link | hf:doc_categories | hf:doc_tags | hf:file_type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPA Terms & Conditions 2023 | The RPA Terms & Conditions 2023 were launched in October 2023 and replace the RPA Supplementary Conditions 2011 & RPA POS Conditions 2021 which are now obsolete. These conditions are not to be used for consumer contracts, and only apply to rail-related work carried out by the Company on behalf of the Customer. The RPA Terms & Conditions cover I) SECTION (A) – GENERAL CONDITIONS ( are also applicable to: – SECTION (B) – CONDITIONS FOR HIRING COMPANY’S PLANT AND PERSONNEL and to – SECTION (C) – CONDITIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF POS SERVICES.) II) SECTION (B) – CONDITIONS FOR HIRING COMPANY’S PLANT AND PERSONNEL (work in conjunction to SECTION (A) – GENERAL CONDITIONS). III) SECTION (C) – CONDITIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF POS SERVICES (work in conjunction to SECTION (A) – GENERAL CONDITIONS.) | Rail Plant Association, RPA Terms & Conditions 2023 | rail-plant-association rpa-terms-conditions-2023 |
