We protect the interests of rail users by monitoring compliance on a range of issues and will use our enforcement powers to take action when necessary.
Network Rail Collapse accordion Open accordion
We hold Network Rail to account for delivering its obligations to provide a safe, high-performing, and efficient railway. We do this through our range of regulatory powers under safety legislation, by enforcing compliance with its licences and by conducting five-yearly reviews that set its funding and what it must achieve within the relevant control period.
Past interventions:
Health and safety Collapse accordion Open accordion
ORR has a range of formal enforcement powers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
You can find details of improvement notices and prohibition notices served by inspectors, and details of enforcement action taken by us to date.
Train operators' licence conditions Collapse accordion Open accordion
Operators of railway assets (trains, networks, stations and depots) must comply with a range of conditions in their licences and the Statement of National Regulatory Provisions (SNRPs). Our economic enforcement policy and penalties statement explains our policy for enforcing all licences and the actions available to us.
Current interventions:
- ORR investigation into Northern Trains Limited
3 March 2026
Past interventions:
Competition Collapse accordion Open accordion
We have a duty to keep the provision of railway services under review and to take appropriate measures where markets are not working to the benefit of users or funders. We have enforcement powers under the Competition Act 1998. We also have powers under the Enterprise Act to carry out market studies.
Rail timetables Collapse accordion Open accordion
Past interventions:
Inquiry into May 2018 network disruption
In May 2018 a new timetable was introduced for large parts of Britain’s railway network, which caused major disruption to services for passengers especially in the North of England and in the South East.
At the request of the Government, ORR established an Inquiry into the factors that contributed to the failure to produce and implement a satisfactory operational timetable in May 2018. Our final report was published on 7 December 2018.