Regulator sets action plan for safe adoption of AI in rail and road
29 May 2026
One of ORR’s first actions will be to clarify safety risks and regulatory expectations for AI use. This will be published by the end of September via the Digital Safety Strategy and Strategic Risk Chapter on health and safety risks arising from the use of digital systems.
ORR’s use of AI is already embedded into some internal processes. This year, the regulator will explore how innovations can be built into the process of checking that trains and infrastructure can safely work together across the rail network (interoperability authorisations). ORR will also build AI into its analysis of consumer datasets to aid early detection and intervention of issues to better protect consumers.
Data has an important role in decision-making and ORR is committed to building on its transparent and open data approach. This would mean that even more data can be used to inform regulation without relying on sensitive or identifiable data.
Stephanie Tobyn, Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulation at ORR said:
Notes to Editors
- ORR is an independent, non-ministerial UK government department, accountable to Parliament. It regulates health, safety, and economic standards across Britain’s railways and holds National Highways to account on England’s strategic road network. ORR employs over 370 professionals across six offices.
- Full details of the Safe AI Innovation Plan are online.
