Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2688) (“the 2000 Regulations”). The principal amendments are as follows.

Regulations 5 and 6 amend regulations 4 and 5 of the 2000 Regulations so that an infrastructure controller is no longer required to obtain an assessment of a safety case prepared either by that infrastructure controller or by a person who operates a train or station pursuant to the 2000 Regulations.

Regulation 8 introduces new regulations 9 and 9A. New regulation 9 requires a person who controls railway infrastructure, a person who operates trains and a person who operates a station to procure a competent body to carry out an audit of the operation of the person in question. New regulation 9A contains provisions about when a railway operator is to procure the first audit under regulation 9. The terms “competent body” and “audit” are defined in new regulation 9(7) and the terms “railway infrastructure”, “railway operator”, “train” and “station” are defined in regulation 2(1) of the 2000 Regulations.

Regulation 10 contains transitional provisions.

A copy of the regulatory impact assessment prepared in respect of these Regulations can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive, Economic and Statistical Advice Unit, Rose Court, 2, Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS. A copy has been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament.