Streamlining our regulatory approach
18 December 2025
Rail reform will bring major change to our role and the way we regulate and monitor the new Great British Railways (GBR).
Ahead of GBR’s introduction, we’re focused on supporting the rail industry in adding value and driving growth, including by streamlining our work with Network Rail, making it as efficient and effective as we can.
This is part of a wide-ranging programme across ORR, in response to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s pledge to cut the administrative cost of regulation, and introduce measures which have a tangible effect on driving growth and investment. This also includes reviewing how we work with National Highways and London St Pancras Highspeed; and we completed a full review of our rail-industry facing service standards in Summer 2025. Our review of the Rail Network Investment Framework is already delivering in support of the Growth Duty.
What have we been doing with Network Rail?
We’ve been working closely with Network Rail to refine and simplify how we work together, ensuring we are continually aligning with regulatory best practice and supporting closer working, innovation and growth.
We’ve achieved a number of quick wins. For example, we’ve streamlined our data sharing processes with Network Rail, and we’re working to automate as many datasets as possible to reduce manual workloads.
Alongside our quick wins, we’re continuing to look at more complex areas, for example our oversight of infrastructure assets. We’ve already held four workshops with Network Rail, facilitated by independent consultants, to explore how we can make our regulation more streamlined and simpler while still making sure we fully protect the interests of rail users and taxpayers in these more complex areas. We are already beginning to see the benefits through closer collaboration, and we have agreed specific actions for the coming months.
Throughout this process, Network Rail has proactively engaged with our work, giving both full support and useful insight.
We need to keep building on this progress to get the most from it. We’ll continue to make progress with Network Rail, and with the emerging GBR. We’ll be reviewing the benefit of these initiatives in Summer 2026, to ensure our regulatory approach remains effective and proportionate, while supporting economic growth and delivering the best outcomes for rail users.
