Regulator profile

ORR

Office of Rail and Road

Enforcement Regulator Great Britain

What ORR does

Independent safety and economic regulator for Britain's railways. Regulates health and safety for the mainline rail network, London Underground, light rail, trams, and heritage railways. Also monitors National Highways' performance and efficiency. Competition authority for railways and enforces consumer protection law for rail passengers.

Key functions: rail safety regulation, track access, passenger rights. Role changing with Railways Bill 2025 and Great British Railways creation.

Access RightsConsumer ProtectionEconomic RegulationRail Safety

Contact ORR

Official guidance from ORR

Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.

Access for freight operators | Office of Rail and Road (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Compliance with ROGS | Office of Rail and Road (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

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

Detailed Guidance

Duty of cooperation/dispute resolution | Office of Rail and Road (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

European derived railway safety legislation | Office of Rail and Road (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Guidance on our approach to regulating track access | Office of Rail and Road (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Interoperability: common framework for new vehicles and infrastructure | Office of Rail and Road (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Investing in the rail network: Licensing | Office of Rail and Road (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

View all 244 guidance documents (opens in a new tab)

Legislation that ORR directly enforces.

Primary legislation

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 UKPGA 1993/43 Transport Act 2000 Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 Railways Act 2005 Infrastructure Act 2015 High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017

Secondary legislation

Railway Safety (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1997 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Railway (Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2005 The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 The Channel Tunnel (Safety) Order 2007 Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 Rail Passengers' Rights and Obligations Regulations 2010 The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010 Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011

… and 29 more statutory instruments.

Legislation connected to ORR’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

Administered / monitored

Railways (Penalty Fares) Regulations 1994 UK Statutory Instrument The Railways (Class and Miscellaneous Exemptions) Order 1994 UK Statutory Instrument Railway Heritage Act 1996 UK Act of Parliament

Referenced in enforcement

Channel Tunnel (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 1994 UK Statutory Instrument Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 UK Act of Parliament Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations 2005 UK Statutory Instrument Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 UK Statutory Instrument

Other publications

1 additional document from ORR.

The statutory and contractual framework for regulation of access to the rail network (opens in a new tab)

Sectors regulated

Railways
Coverage area
Great Britain — England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland may have separate arrangements.

← All regulators