About the Office of Rail and Road
Who
we are and what we do
The
Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is an independent, non-ministerial UK government
department, established by, and accountable directly to Parliament. We protect
the interests of current and future rail and road users, overseeing the safety,
value and performance of the railways and monitoring the performance and
efficiency of England’s strategic road network. Detailed information on our
functions can be found here.
We
regulate Network Rail, including setting the targets it has to achieve, and
report regularly on its performance. We regulate health and safety standards
and compliance across the whole rail industry. We oversee competition and
consumer rights issues – driving a better deal for rail passengers and
taxpayers. We also regulate the High Speed 1 link to the Channel Tunnel.
We
hold National Highways to account on its commitments to improve the performance
and efficiency of England’s strategic road network.
As
an independent regulator, we operate within the framework set by UK legislation
and are accountable through Parliament and the courts.
ORR
comprises a governing board appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport
and over 360 professionals, spanning engineering, railway safety, economics,
competition, statistical analysis and management, operating from six offices
across the country.
Our
strategic objectives
Our business plan
summarises what we aim to achieve each year to meet our four strategic
objectives:
·
A safer railway;
·
Better rail customer service;
·
Value for money from the railway;
·
Better highways.
The
Board
We
are governed by a board responsible for setting our strategy and overseeing its
delivery. Our board has oversight of safety regulation, economic regulatory
delivery and is the competition and consumer authority for the industry, in
line with our legal duties. Members are appointed by the Secretary of State for
Transport for a fixed term of up to 5 years.
Further
information on our Board membership is available here.
The
Board Committees
The
board has four standing committees, and their terms of reference are included
in the board's rules of procedure:
Audit
and Risk Committee
ORR's
audit and risk committee has a key role in corporate governance supporting the
board and the accounting officer in reviewing the adequacy of ORR's risk,
control and governance processes.
Health
and Safety Regulation Committee
ORR's
safety regulation committee helps to develop, maintain, review and update ORR's
health and safety regulatory strategy and oversee the overall adequacy of
arrangements to meet ORR's statutory duties. It provides guidance and advice on
the need for major accident inquiries and reviews the safety policy approach.
Highways
Committee
ORR's
highways committee oversees the work of the highways monitoring team; it
advises the ORR board in developing an appropriate and effective monitoring
framework and internal decision making framework for roads; and acts as a forum
for policy development with senior staff.
Remuneration
and Nominations Committee
ORR's
remuneration and nominations committee has strategic oversight of ORR’s people
strategy under Civil Service terms. It receives reports on diversity and
inclusion, pay strategy and staff sentiment. It reviews senior staff
performance and, with the Chief Executive makes recommendations to the board
for reward in line with Cabinet office guidance for ORR's senior civil servant
staff. The committee also advises on induction and training for non-executive
members.
