ORR - THE OFFICE OF RAIL REGULATION - WWW.RAIL-REG.GOV.UK
> Home > News & publications > Press notices > 2006

ORR publishes its economic enforcement policy and penalties statement

27 April 2006
ORR/11/06

The Office of Rail Regulation has today published its policy on how ORR, as the integrated safety and economic regulator of Britain’s railways, enforces the public interest obligations in the licences held by Network Rail, train operators and others. The policy includes a penalties statement, which sets out the criteria ORR uses in deciding whether to impose a penalty and the amount of that penalty. The policy complements the health and safety enforcement policy that ORR published earlier this month and follows consultation with the industry and others. 

ORR Chief Executive Bill Emery said:
“Our approach is one of firm but fair and effective enforcement. We have a staged approach to monitoring and investigating compliance with licence obligations and look to the industry to resolve problems itself as far as possible. But we will take timely and appropriate enforcement action where necessary, including imposing penalties, to protect the interests of passengers, freight customers and funders of the railway and to ensure that the railway delivers good performance and improving value for money.”  

Notes for editors

  1. ORR’s Enforcement policy and penalties statement is available (see related links).
  2. ORR consulted on a draft enforcement policy and penalties statement in November 2005. The draft policy and statement is available, along with the consultees responses and the reasons for the changes we have made following the consultation.
  3. ORR’s enforcement powers as economic regulator of the rail industry lie in the Railways Act 1993 (as amended) and in the Competition Act 1998.
  4. ORR is required to produce and consult on its penalties statement under section 57B of the Railways Act 1993. The statement has been produced following the coming into force of The Railways Act 1993 (Determination of Turnover) Order 2005, SI 2005/2185.
  5. ORR’s approach to enforcement of competition law is described in its recently updated guideline.
  6. ORR has also published separately its health and safety enforcement policy, available from the ORR website together with a letter from ORR to consultees.

Press enquiries

ORR Press Office – 020 7282 2007/2141