The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has set out in its Business Plan for 2026–27.
The rail regulator said that, as it prepared to transform for the transition to Great British Railways (GBR), its new plan made it clear that it would continue to maintain its full range of day‑to‑day responsibilities.
These include enforcing safety standards, holding Network Rail to account on performance, and ensuring disabled passengers receive the assistance they are entitled to across the country.
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ORR stated that protecting passengers who required assistance when travelling was a clear priority. Its benchmarking framework allows it to directly compare how well operators provide assistance to passengers who need help boarding or leaving trains. The regulator said this work had already seen SWR and WMT develop improvement plans, reinforcing the case for ORR’s earlier intervention with Northern Trains.
ORR will also continue to support operators trialling technology to replace phone-based handovers between stations with electronic systems, which reportedly has the potential to improve the accuracy and reliability of assistance for disabled travellers.
Safety on the railway remains a firm priority and ORR has recruited 10 new inspectors to strengthen frontline oversight. Work will meanwhile continue to tackle violence against rail staff, manage risks at level crossings, and address fatigue and overspeeding risks.
As National Highways enters its third road investment strategy, where it will have £27bn in funding, ORR said it would hold the company to account to deliver its commitments efficiently and effectively.
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ORR said another priority, reflected in the plan, was to reduce the burden of regulation on those it regulates. It is reportedly working to cut administrative costs for businesses by the end of this Parliament, supporting the Government’s Plan for Change mission to kickstart economic growth.
Feras Alshaker will take over as interim Chief Executive from John Larkinson on 27 April 2026, providing continuity of leadership as ORR navigates this period of significant change.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has set out in its Business Plan for 2026–27.
The rail regulator said that, as it prepared to transform for the transition to Great British Railways (GBR), its new plan made it clear that it would continue to maintain its full range of day‑to‑day responsibilities.
These include enforcing safety standards, holding Network Rail to account on performance, and ensuring disabled passengers receive the assistance they are entitled to across the country.
Advertisement
ORR stated that protecting passengers who required assistance when travelling was a clear priority. Its benchmarking framework allows it to directly compare how well operators provide assistance to passengers who need help boarding or leaving trains. The regulator said this work had already seen SWR and WMT develop improvement plans, reinforcing the case for ORR’s earlier intervention with Northern Trains.
ORR will also continue to support operators trialling technology to replace phone-based handovers between stations with electronic systems, which reportedly has the potential to improve the accuracy and reliability of assistance for disabled travellers.
Safety on the railway remains a firm priority and ORR has recruited 10 new inspectors to strengthen frontline oversight. Work will meanwhile continue to tackle violence against rail staff, manage risks at level crossings, and address fatigue and overspeeding risks.
As National Highways enters its third road investment strategy, where it will have £27bn in funding, ORR said it would hold the company to account to deliver its commitments efficiently and effectively.
Advertisement
ORR said another priority, reflected in the plan, was to reduce the burden of regulation on those it regulates. It is reportedly working to cut administrative costs for businesses by the end of this Parliament, supporting the Government’s Plan for Change mission to kickstart economic growth.
Feras Alshaker will take over as interim Chief Executive from John Larkinson on 27 April 2026, providing continuity of leadership as ORR navigates this period of significant change.
