Operate a rail terminal or station

Guide summary

You count as an infrastructure manager under the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006
Apply to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for your safety authorisation, which covers your safety management system
Train and freight operators hold a safety certificate instead of a safety authorisation
At a freight terminal, you need competent staff for terminal and sidings operations
Follow lifting, work equipment and manual handling rules for cargo handling at freight terminals
At passenger stations, meet Equality Act accessibility duties and any station licence or access conditions
Breaking the rules is an offence; the maximum is an unlimited fine and 2 years in prison on indictment
In Scotland, the maximum on summary conviction is 12 months in prison or a £20,000 fine

The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (ROGS) treat the person who manages and operates a station as an infrastructure manager. A station includes a passenger stop or a terminal. On the mainline railway you must not let trains use it unless you keep a safety management system that meets the Regulations and hold a current safety authorisation. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) regulates this in Great Britain. Rail in Northern Ireland is regulated separately.

ORR safety authorisation (infrastructure managers)

If you manage rail infrastructure or a station (SIC 49.20/52.21), you must hold safety authorisation from the Office of Rail and Road covering your safety management system.

If you manage rail infrastructure or operate a station, you are an infrastructure manager and must hold a safety authorisation from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) under ROGS, covering your safety management system. (Train and freight operators hold a safety certificate instead.) The ORR's safety functions derive from the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.

Statutory source: Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20)
Regulator: Office of Rail and Road (ORR)
Applies to: Rail infrastructure managers and station operators (SIC 49.20/52.21)
Territorial scope: Great Britain

Freight terminals

Railway and other guided transport safety regime (rail freight terminals — ORR)

If you operate a rail freight terminal connected to the network (SIC 52.21/1), you operate within the ORR safety regime (ROGS) and need a safety management system and competent staff.

If you operate a rail freight terminal connected to the network, you operate within the Office of Rail and Road safety regime — the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations (ROGS) made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. A safety management system and competent staff are required for terminal/sidings operations. Cargo-handling H&S (LOLER/PUWER/manual handling) also applies.

Statutory source: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37); ROGS Regulations
Regulator: Office of Rail and Road (ORR)
Applies to: Operation of rail freight terminals (SIC 52.21/1)
Territorial scope: Great Britain

Passenger stations

Station operation under the ORR safety regime

If you operate a railway station (SIC 52.21/2), you sit within the ORR safety regime and must hold a safety management system. Passenger facilities also engage Equality Act accessibility duties.

If you operate a railway station, you sit within the Office of Rail and Road safety regime and must hold a safety management system under the framework of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Passenger-facing facilities also engage Equality Act accessibility duties and station-specific licence/access conditions.

Statutory source: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (c. 37); ROGS Regulations
Regulator: Office of Rail and Road (ORR)
Applies to: Operation of rail passenger facilities at railway stations (SIC 52.21/2)
Territorial scope: Great Britain

Enforcement and penalties

ROGS are health and safety regulations, so a breach is an offence under section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The maximum is an unlimited fine and 2 years in prison on indictment. On summary conviction it is a fine or prison up to the general limit in a magistrates' court in England and Wales, or 12 months or £20,000 in Scotland. The ORR enforces.

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Primary 1974 · UK-wide Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 Primary 2003 · UK-wide The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 SI 2006 · UK-wide

Browse UK legislation legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Office of Rail and Road (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK

Operate a rail terminal or station

Freight terminals

Passenger stations

Enforcement and penalties

Legal basis

Official guidance

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