Who we work with

Railway networks

The rail infrastructure in the UK comprises of several different bodies. We are the health and safety regulator for the UK’s mainline network and for a few other forms of transport that run on rail.

• GB mainline network: the infrastructure manager for this network is Network Rail.
• Channel Tunnel Rail Link: the infrastructure manager for this network is London St. Pancras Highspeed.
• Channel Tunnel: the infrastructure manager for this network is Eurotunnel.
• Core Valley Lines: the infrastructure manager for this network is Amey Keolis Infrastructure, Seilwaith Amey Keolis Limited.
• Crossrail Central Operating Section: the infrastructure manager for this network is Rail for London (Infrastructure) Ltd.
• Heathrow Spur: the infrastructure manager for this network is Heathrow Airport Limited.
• Underground railways: we regulate both London Underground Limited (LU) and the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).
• Light rail and tramways: we have responsibility for health and safety on light rail and tramways in Great Britain.
• Minor and heritage railways: we provide guidance to minor rail operators with advice and assistance on safety requirements. We also impose certain constraints on minor railways in reaction to speed and weight limits.

Governments

As the safety and economic regulator of the rail industry and Highways England’s monitor, we work with the following government bodies.   

• Department for Transport: the Department for Transport has overall responsibility for transport including rail and road. It provides strategic direction and funding to the railways, procures rail franchises and transport-related projects.
• Transport Scotland: it has responsibility for the majority of rail powers in Scotland, while responsibility for safety regulation across Great Britain remains with the Office of Rail and Road.
• Welsh Government: the Welsh Government specifies and monitors the train passenger franchise in Wales.
• Department of Regional Development, Northern Ireland: this is the body with responsibilities for transport strategy in Northern Ireland.
• Transport for London: the integrated body responsible for London's transport system.
• Passenger Transport Executives: passenger transport authorities that are responsible for setting out transport policy and public transport expenditure plans in their metropolitan areas.
• UK Regulators’ Network (UKRN): it brings together the regulators of our utility services, transport, financial, health and legal services and others to help make regulation work well for consumers and the economy.

Safety bodies   

As the safety and economic regulator of the rail industry and National Highways' monitor, we work with the following safety bodies.

• Health and Safety Executive: it gives advice to the Government on health and safety matters.
• Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB): it investigates railway accidents and incidents on the UK's railways to improve safety. 
• RSSB (the Rail Safety and Standards Board): it helps the mainline railway industry's work to achieve continuous improvement in health and safety performance.
• British Transport Police (BTP): the national police force for the mainline railways and the London Underground system, Docklands Light Railway, the Glasgow Subway, the Midland Metro tram system and Croydon Tramlink.
• Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB): the dedicated safety body for the sector since it was established in 2019.

Industry organisations   

As the safety and economic regulator of the rail industry and National Highways' monitor, we work with a number of organisations in the railway industry.

• Network Rail: the owner, operator and infrastructure manager of Britain's mainline railway network.
• Train Operating Companies (TOCs): they run rail passenger services, leasing and managing stations from infrastructure managers.
• Rail Delivery Group: a leadership body be established to take responsibility for coordinating and leading on cross-railway industry initiatives.
• Freight Operating Companies: companies use the rail network in order to transport goods to their destination.
• Freight customers: those with a direct interest in rail freight, including purchasers of services and their representative bodies, but not the operators of the trains.
• Rolling stock companies (ROSCOs): these leasing companies own most of the coaches, locomotives and freight wagons that run on the rails, which they lease to train operating and freight operating companies.

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