Office of Rail and Road February 2026 newsletter
30 January 2026
Hello and welcome to the February newsletter.
I’m delighted to have recently joined ORR’s safety directorate as Deputy Director, with responsibility for the non-mainline part of ORR’s remit.
This includes Transport for London, Light Rail & Tramways, Heritage Railways, and the Channel Tunnel. My immediate priority is to get out and about—meeting colleagues across the organisation and connecting with external stakeholders. I’m keen to understand how things currently work and to hear your ideas for how we can improve.
I come to the role with 13 years’ experience at GB Railfreight, where I held positions spanning Control, New Business, Operations, Training, Standards and Safety.
This gave me a well-rounded understanding of how a freight operating company functions through a sustained period of growth. My most recent roles—Regional Manager East and Head of Risk & Compliance—provided experience of leading both large front-line teams and headquarters departments, as well as contributing to the business’s Senior Management Team.
My career has taught me a great deal about the complexities of the UK’s rail network, shaped in part by more than 200 years of railway heritage. My approach is to pursue simplicity and practicality, even when challenges are anything but straightforward. Open discussion is essential to understanding these challenges together and charting a path towards better, safer outcomes — something we must never lose sight of.
Away from work, I keep busy with socialising, exercise and an ongoing house renovation. I’m fortunate to live in the North-East, where the beach and countryside are on our doorstep, offering plenty of fresh air and good pubs. I’m a keen amateur runner, cricketer, golfer and skier — though there’s no danger of being called up to higher honours.
I very much look forward to working with the industry in the months ahead to promote safety across our railways.
Alex Sprott
Deputy Director for Rail Safety, Non-Mainline
Top Stories
ORR Sets Out Position on Railways Bill in Committee Evidence
Following our appearance in front of the Transport Select Committee, John Larkinson gave evidence to the Public Bill Committee which is scrutinising the Railways Bill. In a wide-ranging session, John, alongside Jeremy Westlake and Alex Hynes discussed the future appeals role and the role of ORR, and regulatory burden and the scope of ORR regulation.
You can see the video of the session here: Parliamentlive.tv – Railways Bill and read our briefing paper on the Railways Bill here.
ORR Delivers Efficiency Advice for National Highways’ RP3
At the end of last year, ORR completed its Efficiency Review of National Highways’ draft Strategic Business Plan for the third road period (RP3, 2026-31). This marked the culmination of three months’ intensive work by our teams to advise the Secretary of State on whether National Highways’ proposals are deliverable within the available financial resources, sufficiently ambitious, and underpinned by appropriate levels of efficiency. Our advice has been provided to the Department for Transport, whom we are continuing to support as it finalises its advice to ministers and prepares the publication of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) for the start of April. ORR’s review will be published alongside RIS3.
ORR Responds to Transport Committee on Avanti Service Decision
At the end of last year, Transport Select Committee Chair, Ruth Cadbury, wrote to John Larkinson about our decision around granting rights to the 0700 Avanti service running between Manchester and London. You can find our response to her letter here.
We were grateful to have the opportunity to explain to the Committee the reasoning for our judgement and how we acted independently when further information was clear, to move quickly to maintain the service for passengers. We are taking learnings from this instance and will continue to work with the rail industry to get decisions right first time.
Blog
Supporting fair and transparent rail retailing: updated guidance for retailers
In her blog, Anna Saunders, Senior Manager in the Consumer team, details the updated Guidance on Rail Retailing, following a public consultation in autumn 2025.
She explains how the updated Guidance cites how consumer protection law applies to selling rail tickets today, helping retailers provide clear, accurate and transparent information to passengers without introducing new obligations.
The guidance is aimed at rail-sector retailers and is designed to support them in understanding and meeting their obligations when selling rail tickets and products to consumers. It may also be helpful for passengers to understand the information that retailers should provide.
Statistics
In January we published the following statistics:
- Delay compensation claims: 20 Jul 2025 – 11 Oct 2025 (Periods 5-7)
- Disabled Persons Railcards and assisted journeys: 20 Jul 2025 – 11 Oct 2025 (Periods 5-7)
- Common Safety Indicators: assessment of achievement of safety targets Annual (2024)
- Passenger rail usage: Jul – Sep 2025 (Q2)
- Passenger lifts at stations: 1 Apr 2025 – 11 Oct 2025 (Periods 1-7)
