The RAILSAFE project was a European project supported by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme with the purpose of carrying out the steps to certification of railway track welders that lasted from October 2004 to September 2007.

Strategic Objectives:

- Qualification of welders (diploma), harmonised (European) examination, education and training according to a harmonised curriculum guideline at approved training establishments;
- Well-trained and qualified welders.

An education, training, qualification and certification system for railway track welders was developed, using the best of existing national material, but with a fresh look on quality and safety. As far as welding processes are concerned, RAILSAFE’s main attention was to aluminothermic welding.
The harmonisation comprised the welders’ performance objectives and curriculum for education and training (not the training material), examination, qualification (European diploma) and certification (European certificate) and a database of certified welders.
The new standards EN 147301 have proved to be a basis for the RAILSAFE activities, especially the standard on procedures. The standards however do not specify in detail the level of training or competence of welders. The project outcomes helped in providing these details.