The aim of this project was to build on the success of the first RAILSAFE project (www.ewf.be/railsafe). Whereas the first project covered the joining of rails by the aluminothermic welding process, this second phase covered the use of arc welding for joining, repairing and refurbishing rails. Arc welding requires completely different skills, but the competence requirements are just as critical to the reliability of rail tracks, thus a similar approach was adopted. Similar to the first project, the main outcomes of this work were:

• A European harmonised approach to training and qualification which brings the advantage of mobility and employability of welders throughout Europe;
• A recognisable competence benchmark through certification;
• Structured lifelong learning;
• Adequate underpinning for an emerging European Standard;
• And a support mechanism for the interoperability between national railway systems and to railway safety.

This time, however, the system of certification was configured for compliance with national VET systems in Europe thereby facilitating transferability throughout Europe and, in some cases, access to public funding.
Five of the current partners were also involved in the first RAILSAFE project: the international research and technology organisation in the UK – TWI, the coordinator of the first RAILSAFE project – Ir.J.B. van den Brug Raadgevend Ingenieur, the Portuguese ISQ – Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, the Swedish Welding Commission (SWC) and the European Welding Federation (EWF). A new partner was the National R&D Institute for Welding and Material Testing in Timisoara, Romania.

Together, they have the necessary expertise and networks to deliver the project objectives. The project sought to unify a variety of different national approaches to training of railway track welders, allowing mobility of welders throughout Europe. A further benefit of the project was been to enable skilled welders from sectors which are in decline to undergo supplementary training in order to transfer into the growing rail sector.

A more tangible outcome was a Guideline for training, qualification and certification, and rules for its implementation, following the same approach of the first RAILSAFE.

The system and its implementation were tested by pilot courses and the major project outputs were disseminated for use by the rail industry in Europe through the partners and the contacts they established during the first project. The project began in October 2008 and concluded its activities in September 2010.

It has concluded with very high marks from the UK's National Agency, receiving 8 out of 10 evaluation points, with the Agency highlighting the added-value of the outcomes produced and the possibility of future actions being organised following Railsafe2’s example.