Infrastructure and rolling stock

Railway infrastructure consists primarily of the tracks, formation and supporting structures (bridges, viaducts and tunnels), stations and on electrified lines. Signalling and train control equipment also form part of the infrastructure.

Safety on all railways (including underground as well as the national ‘heavy rail’ network) is regulated by the Office of Rail Regulation's HM Railway Inspectorate.

Under health and safety law, HMRI has powers of investigation and enforcement to ensure that railway operators are controlling risks posed by rolling stock and rolling stock operations, so far as is reasonably practicable.

ORR has high-level internal guidance and general principles on the application of 'so far as is reasonably practicable' (SFAIRP) and the use of cost benefit analysis (CBA) in support of safety-related investment decisions.