Functions of the Office of Rail Regulation

The functions of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) include the following:

• Securing the proper construction and safe operation of the railways;
• Securing the proper construction and safe operation of trains and other vehicles used on railways;
• Protecting the public (passengers and non-passengers alike) from risks arising from the operation of railways;
• Protecting railway workers from injury and other heath and safety risks;
• The regulation of Network Rail (formerly Railtrack plc) as owner of the national rail network infrastructure, including setting its access charges, establishing the baseline outputs which the company should provide to ensure that it is an efficient steward of the national railway network; and enforcing the conditions set out in its network licence;
• The issue, modification and enforcement of licences to operate trains, networks, stations and light maintenance depots;
• The approval of access contracts to railway facilities, i.e. track, stations and light maintenance depots, and directing compulsory third party access (including connections) to railway facilities;
• The exercise of powers under the Competition Act 1998, concurrent with the Office of Fair Trading in relation to services relating to railways, to stop anti-competitive agreements and concerted practices and behaviour amounting to the abuse of a dominant market position;
• The approval of changes to the key central codes that establish common rules and procedures for the railway industry (including the network code, the Railway Industry Dispute Resolution Rules and the Claims and Handling Agreement);
• Determining appeals in certain legal and regulatory disputes.