Glossary

Browse the A-Z below for some rail-specific terms that are used in this website, together with their meanings.
 

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  • O

  • OFT

    The Office of Fair Trading

  • OLE

    Overhead line electrification equipment.

  • Open access

    Open access passenger train operators are those who operate services purely on a commercial basis, i.e. not under either a franchise or a concession agreement. These are companies who identify an opportunity to run a service which is not currently being provided, and they apply to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for the necessary track access rights and to Network Rail for train paths in the timetable. Open access passenger operators include Hull Trains, Grand Central and Wrexham & Shropshire (WSMR).

  • Operator

    Section 6(2) of the Railways Act 1993 defines “operator”, in relation to a railway asset, as:

    “the person having the management of that railway asset for the time being”.

    For instance, in the case of a train, this would normally be the person from whom the driver takes instructions (that is management instructions rather than signalling instructions).