Regulator profile
ORR
Office of Rail and Road
Enforcement Regulator4 areas of regulation · 47 laws enforced · 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.
Additional information
Key functions: rail safety regulation, track access, passenger rights. Role changing with Railways Bill 2025 and Great British Railways creation.
Contact ORR
Types of regulation
Legal framework
Legislation that ORR directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Act 1974
- UKPGA 1993/43 Act 1993
- Transport Act 2000 Act 2000
- Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 Act 2003
- Railways Act 2005 Act 2005
- Infrastructure Act 2015 Act 2015
- High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Act 2017 Act 2017
Secondary legislation
- Railway Safety (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1997 UK Statutory Instrument 1997
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 UK Statutory Instrument 1999
- Railway (Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2005 UK Statutory Instrument 2005
- The Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 UK Statutory Instrument 2006
- The Channel Tunnel (Safety) Order 2007 UK Statutory Instrument 2007
- Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 UK Statutory Instrument 2009
- Rail Passengers' Rights and Obligations Regulations 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Guernsey) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- The Train Driving Licences and Certificates Regulations 2010 UK Statutory Instrument 2010
- ... and 30 more statutory instruments
Related legislation
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 1994 -
The Railways (Class and Miscellaneous Exemptions) Order 1994
UK Statutory Instrument 1994 -
Railway Heritage Act 1996
UK Act of Parliament 1996
Referenced in enforcement
-
Channel Tunnel (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 1994
UK Statutory Instrument 1994 -
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
UK Act of Parliament 2000 -
Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations 2005
UK Statutory Instrument 2005 -
Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015
UK Statutory Instrument 2015
Other publications
1 additional documents from ORR.
Sectors regulated
Coverage area
Great Britain
Covers England, Scotland, and Wales. Northern Ireland may have separate arrangements.