The Office of Rail Regulation welcomes the Rail White Paper

15 July 2004
ORR/37/04

The Board of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has welcomed the Government’s proposals for the revised structure of the rail industry, which gives a clear endorsement for the continuing role of independent economic regulation.

Responsibility for rail safety will be transferred to ORR and thus will remain independent of government and the industry.

The Chairman of the ORR Board, Chris Bolt said:

“We are fully committed to the proposed new structure for delivering safe and efficient rail services.  We look forward to working closely with the HSE to ensure a smooth transition of their rail safety functions. We shall work closely with the industry and with Government on the other changes announced in the White Paper aimed at making the industry  work more efficiently and effectively.”

Notes for Editors

1. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) was established on 5th July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.  It replaced the Office of the Rail Regulator.  The Office's principal function is to regulate Network Rail's stewardship of the national network.  The ORR also licenses operators of railway assets, approves agreements for access by operators to track, stations, and light maintenance depots, and enforces domestic competition law.

2. The Chairman of the ORR, Chris Bolt, has also been appointed the International Rail Regulator (IRR) by the Secretary of State.  This is a statutory office separate from that of the Office of Rail Regulation.  The IRR licences the operation of certain international rail services in the European Economic Area, and access to railway infrastructure in Great Britain for the purpose of the operation of such services.

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