USEFUL LINKS - STATUTORY

Department for Transport - www.dft.gov.uk

Changes following the Railways Act 2005 mean that the Department for Transport will set the strategic direction for the railway in England and Wales, specifying funding and what high-level outputs it requires.

The DfT will also assume responsibility for the administration of the Company Neutral Revenue Support and Track Access grants for England, Wales and Scotland, and Freight Facilities Grants in England.

Office of Rail Regulation - www.rail-reg.gov.uk

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) was established on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003. It replaces the Office of the Rail Regulator. 

As the railway industry's economic regulator, the Office's principal function is to regulate Network Rail's stewardship of the national network. The ORR also licenses operators of railway assets, approves agreements for access by operators to track, stations, and light maintenance depots, and enforces domestic competition law.

The ORR is led by a Board appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, under the chairmanship of Chris Bolt.

Under the Railways Act 2005 the ORR has assumed responsibility for safety regulation. The ORR also publishes National Rail Trends which contains a range of the latest statistics on rail freight.

Scottish Executive - www.scotland.gov.uk

Under the provisions of the Railways Act 2005 the Scottish Executive will set the strategic direction for the railway in Scotland, specifying funding and what high-level outputs it requires.

The Scottish Executive administers Freight Facilities Grants for Scotland.

Welsh Assembly - www.wales.gov.uk

The Welsh Assembly has responsibility for administering Freight Facilities Grants in Wales.

More contact details for any of the organisations mentioned above can be found at RFG Directory.