This Directive lays down provisions to ensure the development and improvement of the safety of the Union rail system and improved access to the market for rail transport services by:

  1. harmonising the regulatory structure in the Member States;
  2. defining responsibilities between the actors in the Union rail system;
  3. developing common safety targets (‘CSTs’) and common safety methods (‘CSMs’) with a view to gradually removing the need for national rules;
  4. setting out the principles for issuing, renewing, amending and restricting or revoking safety certificates and authorisations;
  5. requiring the establishment, for each Member State, of a national safety authority and an accident and incident investigating body; and
  6. defining common principles for the management, regulation and supervision of railway safety.