Britain’s rail industry is being urged to maintain strong safety standards and clear accountability as major reforms reshape the sector, with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) highlighting opportunities to strengthen protections for passengers and workers.

In its annual health and safety report, published on 14 July, the regulator said Britain’s railways continue to operate safely overall but that sustained attention is needed to address known risks and deliver further improvements.

A key focus is the management of overspeeding, which the ORR identifies as one of the most significant risks on the railway. Following an industry meeting convened by the regulator, progress has been made on developing joint risk assessments for high-risk junctions and strengthening collaboration between organisations responsible for track and train operations.

The approach highlights the value of coordinated risk management, particularly where safety responsibilities are shared across different organisations. For rail operators and infrastructure managers, effective communication, assessment of operational risks and consistent application of safety controls remain important tools for preventing incidents.

The ORR is also continuing to promote better welfare provision for railway workers. A number of organisations have committed to the RSSB Welfare Facilities Charter, which promotes access to appropriate welfare facilities and focuses on safeguarding the dignity, safety and wellbeing of rail staff. The ORR said it will continue to assess welfare provision through inspections and engagement with industry.

Trackworker safety is another area receiving targeted attention. The ORR said progress has been made in reducing higher-risk working practices and plans further inspections of how Network Rail and contractors manage welfare and safety risks when work is undertaken on closed sections of track.

The regulator has also emphasised the importance of maintaining effective safety controls when financial or operational pressures result in planned renewals being deferred or reduced. Where work is changed, Network Rail is expected to demonstrate that risks have been properly assessed and suitable measures are in place to manage them.

The wider reform programme also presents an opportunity to reinforce safety leadership across the sector. The ORR said the creation of Great British Railways should not weaken existing protections or create uncertainty around responsibility for passenger and worker safety. The regulator will continue to scrutinise safety performance as the reform programme progresses.

For the sector, the lesson is clear: major organisational change must be accompanied by equally strong safety leadership. Consistent risk assessment, worker welfare, clear accountability and collaboration between rail organisations can help ensure that reform strengthens rather than compromises the protections already in place.

Source: Office of Rail and Road (UK) / Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB)