Health and safety

Applicants must follow a common framework and get authorisation from us before putting new, upgraded or renewed infrastructure or rolling stock into use.

We have produced 'Principles for health and safety on the railway' to help dutyholders understand how to meet our expectations for the high-level goals that should be achieved by the railway when complying with the health and safety legislation. It highlights the factors which should be addressed by anyone designing and putting into use new railways or rail vehicles, including major upgrades and

ORR immediately launched a review of both the passenger and safety impact following Hitachi Rail Class 800 series trains withdrawn from service for safety checks on Great Western Railway, London North Eastern Railway, TransPennine Express and Hull Trains, along with cracks being separately discovered after examination on ScotRail’s Class 385 and Southeastern’s Class 395 trains in May 2021.

Our responses to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) in relation to their recommendations published in 2013.

We have published a findings report following a review of the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) making six recommendations.