Health and safety

ORR’s Chief Inspector of Railways issues level crossing warning

30 September 2021

‘Be aware of your surroundings and use level crossings safely’ is the warning issued today by HM Chief Inspector of Railways following the release of rail safety statistics by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

ORR publishes interim report on Hitachi train cracks

9 September 2021

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) today reports in its interim review that Hitachi’s Class 800 and 385 series trains were affected by stress corrosion and fatigue cracks. These resulted in a significant number of Class 800 trains being withdrawn from service in May.

Pam Warren Report: Is safety really part of the rail industry’s DNA?

4 August 2021

ORR commissioned the Pam Warren Report: Is safety really part of the rail industry’s DNA? following the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Ladbroke Grove Rail Incident in 1999.

Consultation on revision of ORR guidance on application of the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 to Mark 1 type and hinged door rolling stock

30 July 2021

We sought views on our proposed revision of ORR guidance on application of the Railway Safety Regulations 1999 (RSR 99) to Mark 1 type and hinged door rolling stock when operated on railway infrastructure where line speed exceeds 40kph.

Engaging for successful approval

29 July 2021

If you’ve ever travelled using a new railway station or a sparkling new train then you may have wondered about the amount of work that has been undertaken to make this happen.

ORR finds Britain’s rail industry responded well to COVID-19 but calls for more action on drainage, structures and track worker safety

13 July 2021

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has today published its 2020-21 annual assessments of rail safety in Great Britain and of Network Rail’s performance.

ORR’s assessment of Network Rail Scotland finds it continued to deliver despite the pandemic but the tragic incident at Carmont is a stark reminder of the need for infrastructure resilience to extreme weather

13 July 2021

The Office of Rail and Road’s annual assessment of Network Rail Scotland’s performance in 2020-21 highlights a difficult year for the region. The derailment of a ScotRail service at Carmont, near Stonehaven, in which three people died, tragically demonstrates the need for Network Rail to make sure that railway assets are resilient to the impacts of extreme weather and climate change.

ORR’s assessment of Network Rail’s Wales and Western region finds it successfully delivered engineering projects but calls for more action on structures inspections and track worker safety

13 July 2021

The Office of Rail and Road’s annual assessment of Network Rail’s performance shows the Wales and Western region was able to complete upgrade and renewal work despite the pandemic. The regulator also highlights the need for improvements to track worker safety and the examination of structures, in the region.

ORR’s assessment of Network Rail’s North West and Central region finds improvements delivered to the railway but calls for more action on structures and track worker safety

13 July 2021

The Office of Rail and Road’s annual assessment of Network Rail shows a renewed focus by the North West & Central region towards improving punctuality and reliability. And despite the pandemic, the region was able to complete upgrade and renewal work.

ORR’s assessment of Network Rail’s Eastern region shows continued drive on safety improvements but focus needed on structures

13 July 2021

The Office of Rail and Road’s annual assessment of Network Rail shows safety performance in the Eastern region has been good as it continues to work towards improving the safety of its workforce. The region has also managed its infrastructure well with fewer failures on the network in the last year.

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