UK Act of Parliament 1993 United Kingdom

Railways Act 1993

At a glance

Enforced by

ORR

What's here

55 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 3 statutory instruments

Penalty landscape

6 of 55 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 7 carry different penalties and 42 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 17
  • Operator 2
  • Trader 2
  • Applicant 1
  • Director or Officer 1
  • Contractor 1

Plus 31 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

1 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Operators also bound by 125 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Applicants also bound by 146 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Contractors also bound by 56 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — The Provision of Railway Services

s.013

References under section 13: time limits

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • ORR must notify licence holders of CMA report extensions Statutory regulator
s.015

Modification following report.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • ORR must consult and notify before modifying rail licence conditions Statutory regulator
s.015

Making of modifications by CMA.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • CMA must consult before modifying railway licences Statutory regulator
s.016

Making of applications for directions.

  • Apply in writing to the ORR for railway facility directions Applicant
s.016

Code of practice.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • ORR must maintain and publish a railway infrastructure code of practice Statutory regulator
s.019

Review of access charges by the Office of Rail and Road.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • ORR must review rail access charges Statutory regulator
s.023

Designation of passenger services.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State and Ministers must designate railway passenger services Crown / Minister / Government department
s.026

Review of directions.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must notify bidders of rail franchise directions Crown / Minister / Government department
s.030

Public sector provision of services.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Franchising authority must provide rail services if a franchise ends Crown / Minister / Government department
s.055

Orders for securing compliance.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • ORR must issue compliance orders for rail operator regulation breaches Statutory regulator
s.057

Penalties.

  • Breach of rail licence conditions or regulatory orders Any Person
s.068

Investigatory functions.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • ORR must investigate rail licence breaches and safety concerns Statutory regulator
s.069

General functions.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • ORR must monitor railway services and provide advice to the government Statutory regulator
s.071

Code of practice for protection of interests of rail users who are disabled.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State must create and promote a code of practice for disabled rail users Crown / Minister / Government department
s.073

Keeping of register by the Scottish Ministers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Scottish Ministers must maintain a register of rail franchise and safety info Crown / Minister / Government department
s.073

Keeping of register by the Welsh Ministers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Welsh Ministers must maintain a public register of rail documents Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 94 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.007

Consumer protection conditions.

s.013

References under section 13: application of Enterprise Act 2002

s.015

CMA's power to veto modifications following report.

s.015

S ections 15A and 15B: supplementary.

s.016

Provision, improvement and development of railway facilities.

s.016

Exemption of railway facilities from section 16A.

s.016

Procedure for considering applications.

s.016

Decisions on applications: adequate reward.

s.016

Other provisions about decisions.

s.016

Directions: compliance, variation and revocation.

s.016

Supplementary.

s.022

Directions to require amendment permitting more extensive use.

s.022

Applications for directions under section 22A: procedure.

s.022

Amendment: supplementary.

s.024

... Exemptions granted by Secretary of State or Welsh Ministers : operator agreements

s.025

Prohibition on franchise extensions and new franchises

s.026

No adequate tenders for franchise.

s.030

Temporary continuation of existing franchises

s.030

Agreements and extensions under section 30A

s.030

Sections 30 to 30B : supplementary

s.046

General determinations of minor closures.

s.046

Notification of minor closures to Regulator.

s.047

Objections to withdrawal of bus substitution service.

s.047

Revocation or variation of bus substitution conditions.

s.057

Statement of policy.

s.057

Procedural requirements for penalties.

s.057

Time limits.

s.057

Interest and payment of instalments.

s.057

Validity and effect of penalties.

s.064

Financial assistance by Scottish Ministers or Welsh Ministers

s.071

Investigatory functions.

s.076

Delegation of duties under section 76(7A)

Part II — Re-organisation of the Railways

Browse 23 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part III — Miscellaneous, General and Supplemental Provisions

s.121

Security: inspections.

2 years imprisonment
  • Obstruct railway security inspections or provide false information Any Person
s.121

Railway security services: approved providers

2 years imprisonment
  • Use of unapproved railway security services Any Person
s.142

General financial provisions.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government must provide funding for the administration of the Railways Act Crown / Minister / Government department
s.149

Service of documents under sections 118 to 120: additional provisions

Amended 5 times
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

s.sch002

Rail Passengers committees

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Strategy Authority must fund and support Rail Passengers’ Committees Crown / Minister / Government department
s.sch003

The Rail Passengers’ Council

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Rail Passengers’ Council must hold public meetings at least twice a year Statutory regulator
s.sch004a

Review of access charges by the Office of Rail and Road

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • ORR must notify parties and authorities before reviewing rail access charges Statutory regulator
s.sch013

Transitional provisions and savings

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Secretary of State may issue directions to railway service providers Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 176 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch001

(1) There shall be paid to a holder of the...

s.sch001

(1) The Regulator . . . may . . .,...

s.sch001

There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—...

s.sch001

The Regulator . . . shall . . . have...

s.sch001

Anything authorised or required by or under this Act or...

s.sch001

The Documentary Evidence Act 1868 shall have effect as if—...

s.sch001

In the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, in Schedule 2 (departments...

s.sch001

In Part III of Schedule 1 to the House of...

s.sch002

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s.sch002

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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There shall be paid to the chairman and other members...

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If a person ceases to hold office as chairman or...

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

s.sch002

The Authority shall make arrangements for a Rail Passengers’ Committee...

s.sch002

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph and...

s.sch002

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, meetings of a Rail...

s.sch002

(1) A Rail Passengers’ Committee may, . . .—

s.sch002

(1) There shall be paid by the Authority—

s.sch002

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s.sch003

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There shall be paid to the chairman and other members...

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

s.sch003

The Authority shall make arrangements for the Rail Passengers’ Council...

s.sch003

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph and...

s.sch003

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, meetings of the Rail...

s.sch003

(1) The Rail Passengers’ Council may . . . —...

s.sch003

(1) There shall be paid by the Authority—

s.sch003

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

s.sch004

In this Schedule— “application for directions” means an application for...

s.sch004

(1) Any application for directions must be made in writing...

s.sch004

(1) The Office of Rail and Road shall—

s.sch004

(1) Where the Office of Rail and Road receives an...

s.sch004

(1) The Office of Rail and Road shall inform the...

s.sch004

(1) Any directions given on an application for directions or...

s.sch004

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004a

This Schedule applies where an access agreement provides, or is...

s.sch004a

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004a

(1) The following sections of Part 3 of the Enterprise...

s.sch004a

(1) In making a report on a reference under paragraph...

s.sch004a

(1) Where a report of the CMA on a reference...

s.sch004a

(1) The CMA may, within the period of four weeks...

s.sch004a

(1) If the CMA give a direction under paragraph 13...

s.sch004a

(1) For the purposes of the law relating to defamation,...

s.sch004a

(1) Where a notice is served on the beneficiary under...

s.sch004a

(1) Where the Office of Rail and Road undertakes such...

s.sch004a

Where— (a) the Secretary of State or the Scottish Ministers...

s.sch004a

(1) Before beginning an access charges review, the Office of...

s.sch004a

(1) Where a notice under paragraph 1C is given to...

s.sch004a

Where the Secretary of State or the Scottish Ministers provide...

s.sch004a

(1) If, at any time in the course of an...

s.sch004a

(1) If, at any time in the course of an...

s.sch004a

(1) The Office of Rail and Road must conduct an...

s.sch004a

(1) The procedure for the implementation of an access charges...

s.sch004a

. . . . . . . . . ....

s.sch004a

(1) The implementation of an access charges review shall be...

s.sch004a

(1) If no objections are duly made by a person...

s.sch004a

(1) After a copy of a notice of agreement is...

s.sch004a

(1) After a copy of a notice of agreement is...

s.sch004a

(1) This paragraph applies if— (a) objections are duly made...

s.sch004a

(1) A reference to the CMA under this paragraph shall...

s.sch005

(1) This Schedule applies in relation to any railway passenger...

s.sch005

(1) Where a person (in this Schedule referred to as...

s.sch005

(1) Where a notice has been published under paragraph 2...

s.sch005

Where the Secretary of State has given his consent under...

s.sch005

(1) The Secretary of State may give his consent under...

s.sch005

(1) A Rail Passengers’ Committee with whom an objection has...

s.sch005

(1) This paragraph applies to any qualifying services—

s.sch005

(1) For the purposes of this Schedule, the appropriate Rail...

s.sch006

Where a railway administration order has been made, sections 11...

s.sch006

(1) Section 27 of the 1986 Act (protection of interests...

s.sch006

In the application of Schedule 1 to the 1986 Act...

s.sch006

(1) Where a railway administration order has been made in...

s.sch006

(1) Section 11 of the 1986 Act (effect of administration...

s.sch006

In section 12 of the 1986 Act (notification of order),...

s.sch006

(1) Section 14 of the 1986 Act (general powers of...

s.sch006

In section 15 of the 1986 Act (power of administrator...

s.sch006

In section 17 of the 1986 Act (general duties of...

s.sch006

In section 22(1) of the 1986 Act (power of administrator...

s.sch006

(1) The powers conferred on a special railway administrator by...

s.sch006

In section 11 of the 1986 Act (effect of order),...

s.sch006

(1) Subject to the preceding provisions of this Schedule, references...

s.sch006

(1) In this Schedule “the 1986 Act” means the Insolvency...

s.sch006

In section 13 of the 1986 Act (appointment of administrator),...

s.sch006

In section 14 of the 1986 Act (general powers of...

s.sch006

(1) Section 15 of the 1986 Act (power to deal...

s.sch006

(1) Section 17 of the 1986 Act (duties of administrator),...

s.sch006

(1) Section 18 of the 1986 Act (discharge and variation...

s.sch006

In section 21(2) of the 1986 Act (notice of order...

s.sch006

In section 23 of the 1986 Act (statement of proposals),...

s.sch007

(1) This Schedule shall apply in any case where—

s.sch007

(1) The existing appointee, acting with the consent of the...

s.sch007

(1) A scheme under this Schedule for the transfer of...

s.sch007

(1) A scheme under this Schedule may provide for a...

s.sch007

(1) A scheme under this Schedule may contain supplemental, consequential...

s.sch007

(1) A scheme under this Schedule may provide for the...

s.sch007

(1) A scheme under this Schedule may provide that any...

s.sch008

(1) The provisions of this paragraph and paragraph 2 below...

s.sch008

On and after the transfer date for any transfer to...

s.sch008

(1) The transferee under a transfer to which this Schedule...

s.sch008

If, in the case of any transfer to which this...

s.sch008

(1) References in paragraphs 8 to 12 above to agreements...

s.sch008

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraphs 8 to...

s.sch008

In this Schedule “statutory provision” means a provision whether of...

s.sch008

(1) It shall be the duty of the transferor and...

s.sch008

(1) The provisions of this paragraph shall have effect where...

s.sch008

(1) This paragraph applies where, on any transfer to which...

s.sch008

(1) This paragraph applies in any case where a transfer...

s.sch008

(1) In the case of any transfer to which this...

s.sch008

(1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied on the...

s.sch008

(1) This paragraph applies where, in the case of any...

s.sch008

(1) Except as otherwise provided in any provision of this...

s.sch009

(1) In this Schedule— “the Inland Revenue” means the Commissioners...

s.sch009

(1) Stamp duty shall not be chargeable on any restructuring...

s.sch009

(1) An agreement to transfer chargeable securities, as defined in...

s.sch010

(1) Section 53 of the British Transport Commission Act 1949...

s.sch010

(1) The said section 53 shall in its application to...

s.sch010

(1) In the Transport Act 1962, sections 69 (organisation of...

s.sch011

(1) In this Schedule— “eligible persons”, in the case of...

s.sch011

(1) The Secretary of State may by order designate—

s.sch011

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, the...

s.sch011

If it appears to the Secretary of State necessary or...

s.sch011

(1) A statutory instrument containing an order under this Schedule,...

s.sch011

In this Schedule, and in any amendment made by this...

s.sch011

(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide for...

s.sch011

(1) The Secretary of State may by order amend—

s.sch011

(1) Where persons with pension rights under any existing or...

s.sch011

In this Schedule “protected person” means— (a) any person who...

s.sch011

(1) The Secretary of State may by order make provision...

s.sch011

(1) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 6 above,...

s.sch011

(1) The Secretary of State may by order make provision...

s.sch011

(1) In section 52 of the Transport Act 1980, in...

s.sch012

Section 6 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 (which...

s.sch012

In section 41(1) of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976...

s.sch012

In section 10(3) of the Estate Agents Act 1979 (exceptions...

s.sch012

(1) In section 11 of the Competition Act 1980, in...

s.sch012

(1) In subsection (2) of section 101 of the Telecommunications...

s.sch012

(1) Section 2 of the London Regional Transport Act 1984...

s.sch012

In section 7 of that Act (planning of passenger transport...

s.sch012

In section 31 of that Act (duty of Board to...

s.sch012

After that section there shall be inserted— Duty of Franchising...

s.sch012

(1) Section 40 of that Act shall have effect with...

s.sch012

Section 41 of that Act (which provides for the committee...

s.sch012

(1) In section 1 of the Railway Fires Act 1905...

s.sch012

In section 59 of that Act (which confers power on...

s.sch012

In section 68 of that Act (interpretation) the following definitions...

s.sch012

(1) In Schedule 3 to that Act, in paragraph 5...

s.sch012

(1) In subsection (2) of section 74 of the Airports...

s.sch012

(1) In subsection (2) of section 42 of the Gas...

s.sch012

In section 413 of the Insolvency Act 1986, at the...

s.sch012

(1) Section 38 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (which...

s.sch012

In Schedule 6 to the Channel Tunnel Act 1987, in...

s.sch012

(1) In subsection (2) of section 57 of the Electricity...

s.sch012

In section 10 of the New Roads and Street Works...

s.sch012

In section 2 of the Railway Fires Act (1905) Amendment...

s.sch012

In the Water Industry Act 1991 (subsection (3)(d) of section...

s.sch012

In the Water Resources Act 1991 (subsection (2)(d) of section...

s.sch012

The British Coal and British Rail (Transfer Proposals) Act 1993...

s.sch012

Section 43 of the British Transport Commission Act 1950 (power...

s.sch012

(1) The Transport Act 1962 shall be amended in accordance...

s.sch012

(1) The Transport Act 1968 shall be amended in accordance...

s.sch012

In section 133(2) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 (exceptions...

s.sch012

In section 174(3) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (exceptions...

s.sch012

In the Railways Act 1974, section 9 (which provides for...

s.sch013

(1) Unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs, any person...

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(1) Until such time as the Regulator otherwise directs—

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(1) This paragraph applies in any case where—

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(1) Section 41 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (which...

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

ORR

Office of Rail and Road

Independent safety and economic regulator for Britain's railways. Regulates health and safety for the mainline rail network, London Underground, light rail, trams, …

3 statutory instruments

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