The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published its 2026–27 Business Plan, outlining how it will continue to protect passengers and road users while preparing for the transition to Great British Railways (GBR).
The regulator said it will maintain its core responsibilities during the reform period, including enforcing safety standards, monitoring Network Rail’s performance and ensuring passengers receive the service they are entitled to.
Focus on accessibility and passenger support
A key priority is improving support for passengers requiring assistance. ORR will continue to use its benchmarking framework to assess how effectively train operators deliver help to older and disabled passengers.
This approach has already led to improvement plans from South Western Railway and West Midlands Trains, and supported earlier regulatory action involving Northern.
The regulator will also support trials of new technology to replace phone-based handovers between stations with digital systems, aimed at improving the reliability and accuracy of assistance.
Strengthening safety oversight
Safety remains central to the plan, with ORR confirming it has recruited ten additional inspectors to strengthen frontline oversight.
Ongoing work will focus on areas including violence against rail staff, risks at level crossings, fatigue management and overspeeding.
Oversight of road investment and efficiency drive
Alongside its rail responsibilities, ORR will continue to monitor National Highways as it enters its third Road Investment Strategy, backed by £27 billion of funding. The regulator will assess whether commitments are delivered efficiently and to plan.
The Business Plan also sets out ORR’s intention to reduce regulatory burden, with measures aimed at cutting administrative costs for the organisations it oversees.
Leadership transition
The plan comes ahead of a leadership change at the regulator, with Feras Alshaker set to become Interim Chief Executive on 27 April 2026, succeeding John Larkinson.
ORR said the transition will ensure continuity as it adapts to the structural changes associated with rail reform and the creation of GBR.
