| Office of Rail Regulation | |
|---|---|
| Non-ministerial government department overview | |
| Formed | July 5, 2004 |
| Preceding Non-ministerial government department | Rail Regulator |
| Jurisdiction | Great Britain |
| Headquarters | 1 Kemble Street, London, WC2B 4AN |
| Employees | 316 |
| Annual budget | £29.6 million (2009-2010) [1] |
| Non-ministerial government department executive | Anna Walker, Chair |
| Website | |
| www.rail-reg.gov.uk | |
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is a statutory board which is the combined economic and safety regulatory authority for Great Britain's railway network. It was established on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator. As a non-ministerial government department it is operationally independent of central government.
Contents |
The ORR's main functions are:
ORR produces what is known as "the Blue Book", officially titled Railway Safety Principles and Guidance, to ensure those operating the rail network, or designing products related to it, comply with health and safety law.
In carrying out its functions, ORR must discharge its statutory duties, which are its formal objectives. These are laid down in section 4 of the Railways Act 1993, and include the protection of the interests of users and the promotion of competition, efficiency and economy in the provision of railway services.
Like other public authorities, ORR must comply with the rules of administrative law, and is amenable to judicial review, so it must act lawfully, rationally, proportionately and in accordance with the relevant rules of procedure. Although operationally independent of central government as a non-ministerial government department, it is still covered by legislation such as the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The ORR is managed by an eight-member board which is appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport. Anna Walker succeeded Chris Bolt as chair of the Office of Rail Regulation on 5 July 2009 when Bolt's five-year term of office ended[2]. The chief executive officer was Bill Emery, who has now been succeeded by Richard Price.
The ORR employs approximately 320 people, with its headquarters located in London.