Transport & Logistics UK-wide

Run a rail operation: licensing and safety

If you operate passenger or freight trains, or use the rail network, you need a licence and safety certificate or authorisation from the Office of Rail and Road, an approved track access agreement, and — if you carry dangerous goods — RID compliance. This guide covers the rail-specific regimes on top of the universal workplace duties in the spine guide.

Guide summary

Get an operating licence and a safety certificate or authorisation from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) before running trains or using the rail network in Great Britain. You also need an approved track access agreement. If you carry dangerous goods, follow RID rules and train your staff. Different rules apply in Northern Ireland.

  • Get an operating licence from ORR
  • Get a safety certificate if you operate trains
  • Get a safety authorisation if you manage infrastructure or a station
  • Get an approved track access agreement for using the network
  • Comply with RID if carrying dangerous goods
  • Train and certify staff for dangerous goods
  • Appoint a dangerous goods safety adviser if required
  • Check universal workplace duties in the spine guide
  • Check separate arrangements for Northern Ireland
On this page

This guide is for businesses that move passengers or freight by rail, or that use the rail network. Rail is regulated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), which combines economic licensing with safety regulation. You will generally need three things in place — an operating licence, a safety certificate or authorisation, and an approved track access agreement — plus RID compliance if you carry dangerous goods. The universal workplace duties are in Set up and run a safe land transport operation.

This covers the Great Britain mainline regime. Rail in Northern Ireland is operated and overseen under separate arrangements — check the NI position if that is where you operate.

A. Operating licence

The ORR issues the licence to run trains or operate network assets. Passenger franchise or contract operators also need an agreement with the relevant contracting authority (the Department for Transport, Transport Scotland or Transport for Wales).

B. Safety certificate or safety authorisation

Under the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations (ROGS), the split is by role, not by passenger versus freight. If you operate trains — passenger or freight, a "transport undertaking" — you need a safety certificate. If you manage infrastructure or a station — an "infrastructure manager" — you need a safety authorisation. Both evidence a safety management system accepted by the ORR.

C. Network access

To run on the network you need a track access agreement, approved by the ORR, setting your access rights, charges and obligations with the infrastructure manager.

D. Carrying dangerous goods by rail

If you carry dangerous goods by rail, consignments must comply with RID and your staff must be trained and certified, with a dangerous goods safety adviser where required.

E. Terminals and stations

If you also operate a rail freight terminal or a railway station, those activities fall under SIC division 52 and sit within the same ORR safety regime (ROGS), with additional cargo-handling and passenger accessibility duties. See the warehousing and transport-support guidance for terminal and station operation.

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    What to do next

    Confirm the universal duties in the spine guide are in place, then complete the land transport compliance checklist for the rail items.

Official sources

Authoritative guidance for rail operators.