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Office of Rail and Road
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Office of Rail and Road
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is a non-ministerial government department responsible for the economic and safety regulation of Britain's railways, and the economic monitoring of National Highways.
ORR regulates Network Rail by setting its activities and funding requirements for each Control Period, ensuring train operators have fair access to the railway network, and enforcing compliance with its network licence. ORR also regulates High Speed 1, the Channel Tunnel, and also acts as the appeal body, controls the network statement and monitors the competitive situation of rail services in Northern Ireland. It is the competition authority for the railways and enforces consumer protection law in relation to the railways. ORR's role is expected to reduce as part of the transition from Network Rail to Great British Railways.
From April 2015, ORR assumed responsibility for monitoring National Highways' management of the strategic road network – the motorways and main A roads in England – and advising the Secretary of State for Transport on the levels of funding and performance requirements for each Road Period.
ORR was established as the Office of Rail Regulation on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator. It became the Office of Rail and Road on 1 April 2015 following ORR's appointment as Monitor for National Highways under the Infrastructure Act 2015.
Network Rail – the owner and operator of most of the railway network in England, Scotland and Wales – operates under a network licence. ORR holds Network Rail to account through the network licence which includes conditions relating to its management of the railway network, information provision and safety obligations.
ORR is also responsible for setting Network Rail's outputs and funding requirement for each Control Period, including the access charges paid by train and freight operating companies to Network Rail for the use of its infrastructure. ORR then holds Network Rail to account against the delivery, performance and service levels set out in its final determination.
ORR is concerned with the regulation of Network Rail as the monopoly owner of much of Britain's railway infrastructure. It does not play a direct role in regulating fares; responsibility for this lies with the Department for Transport.
Proposals by the UK Government in February 2025 envisage reducing ORR's role when Great British Railways (GBR) replaces Network Rail. ORR would assess GBR's business plans, monitor major changes during the five-year cycle, and handle appeals against GBR's decisions. The functions of ORR in approving train operators' access to the network, and selling access rights, would be transferred to GBR.
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Office of Rail and Road
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is a non-ministerial government department responsible for the economic and safety regulation of Britain's railways, and the economic monitoring of National Highways.
ORR regulates Network Rail by setting its activities and funding requirements for each Control Period, ensuring train operators have fair access to the railway network, and enforcing compliance with its network licence. ORR also regulates High Speed 1, the Channel Tunnel, and also acts as the appeal body, controls the network statement and monitors the competitive situation of rail services in Northern Ireland. It is the competition authority for the railways and enforces consumer protection law in relation to the railways. ORR's role is expected to reduce as part of the transition from Network Rail to Great British Railways.
From April 2015, ORR assumed responsibility for monitoring National Highways' management of the strategic road network – the motorways and main A roads in England – and advising the Secretary of State for Transport on the levels of funding and performance requirements for each Road Period.
ORR was established as the Office of Rail Regulation on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator. It became the Office of Rail and Road on 1 April 2015 following ORR's appointment as Monitor for National Highways under the Infrastructure Act 2015.
Network Rail – the owner and operator of most of the railway network in England, Scotland and Wales – operates under a network licence. ORR holds Network Rail to account through the network licence which includes conditions relating to its management of the railway network, information provision and safety obligations.
ORR is also responsible for setting Network Rail's outputs and funding requirement for each Control Period, including the access charges paid by train and freight operating companies to Network Rail for the use of its infrastructure. ORR then holds Network Rail to account against the delivery, performance and service levels set out in its final determination.
ORR is concerned with the regulation of Network Rail as the monopoly owner of much of Britain's railway infrastructure. It does not play a direct role in regulating fares; responsibility for this lies with the Department for Transport.
Proposals by the UK Government in February 2025 envisage reducing ORR's role when Great British Railways (GBR) replaces Network Rail. ORR would assess GBR's business plans, monitor major changes during the five-year cycle, and handle appeals against GBR's decisions. The functions of ORR in approving train operators' access to the network, and selling access rights, would be transferred to GBR.