OpenLegislation

Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003

2003 c. 20 · Enacted 10 July 2003 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 5 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 29 June 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Pt. 3functions no longer exercisableexcludedRailway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017 s. 4
Pt. 3functions no longer exercisableexcludedRailway Policing (Scotland) Act 2017 s. 5
s. 19word repealedPolice and Justice Act 2006 Sch. 15 Pt. 1(B)
Sch. 4 para. 7(3)(c)words substitutedTribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 Sch. 16 para. 14(2)
s. 92-94power to apply (with modifications)Space Industry Act 2018 Sch. 3 para. 6(1)-(3)

An Act to make provision about railways, including tramways; to make provision about transport safety; and for connected purposes.

[10th July 2003]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C1C2C3C4

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act excluded (S.) (27.4.2006) by Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Act 2006 (asp 6), s. 62(4) (with s. 75)

C2

Act excluded (S.) (8.5.2006) by Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Act 2006 (asp 7), s. 62(4) (with ss. 76, 84)

C3

Act applied (with modifications) (E.) (10.5.2021) by The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Functions) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/112), arts. 1(4), 35(1)(2), Sch. 5 para. 14

C4

Act applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (21.3.2024) by The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (Election of Mayor and Transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner Functions) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/414), arts. 1(2), 5, Sch. 1 para. 14

Contents

  1. Part 1: Investigation of Railway Accidents
  2. Introduction
  3. 1Meaning of “railway” and “railway property”
  4. 2Meaning of railway accident” and railway incident”
  5. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch
  6. 3Establishment
  7. 4General aims
  8. 5Assistance to others
  9. 6Annual report
  10. Investigation by Branch
  11. 7Investigations
  12. 8Investigator’s powers
  13. 9Regulations
  14. Investigation by industry
  15. 10Requirement to investigate
  16. Accident regulations
  17. 11Accident regulations
  18. General
  19. 12Crown application
  20. 13Regulations
  21. 14Extent
  22. Part 2: Office of Rail and Road
  23. 15Establishment
  24. 15AChange of name
  25. 16Transfer of functions
  26. 17Extent
  27. Part 3: British Transport Police
  28. Police Authority
  29. 18The British Transport Police Authority
  30. 19Exercise of functions
  31. Police Force
  32. 20Establishment of Police Force
  33. 21Chief Constable
  34. 22Deputy Chief Constable
  35. 23Assistant Chief Constables
  36. 24Constables
  37. 25Special constables
  38. 26Cadets
  39. 27Civilian employees
  40. 28Exercise of powers by civilians
  41. 29Terms of employment
  42. 30Trade union membership
  43. Jurisdiction
  44. 31Jurisdiction
  45. 31AExercise of powers and privileges in Scotland
  46. 31BExercise of functions in relation to children under the Scottish age of criminal responsibility
  47. 32Prosecution
  48. Police Services Agreements
  49. 33Police services agreement
  50. 34Compulsory police services agreement
  51. 35Arbitration by Secretary of State
  52. Regulation of Police Force
  53. 36Police regulations: general
  54. 37Police regulations: special constables
  55. 38Police regulations: cadets
  56. 39British Transport Police Federation
  57. 40Regulations: approval in draft
  58. 41Police regulations: direction to Authority
  59. 42Police regulations by Secretary of State
  60. 43Regulations: further appeal Repealed
  61. 44Equipment regulations
  62. 45Regulation of procedure and practice
  63. 46Conditions of service: Transport Police Conference
  64. 47Code of practice: Authority
  65. 48Code of practice: Chief Constable
  66. 49Service outside Police Force
  67. Planning
  68. 50Policing objectives: Authority
  69. 51Policing objectives: Secretary of State
  70. 52Railways policing plan
  71. 53Performance targets
  72. 54Performance directions
  73. 55Three-year strategy plan
  74. Information, &c.
  75. 56Reports by Chief Constable
  76. 57Annual report by Authority
  77. 58Other reports to Secretary of State
  78. 59Statistics
  79. 60Inquiry
  80. 61Inquiry: supplemental
  81. 62Public consultation
  82. Inspection
  83. 63Inspection
  84. 64Action after adverse inspection report
  85. 65Remedial direction
  86. 66Action plan
  87. 67Senior appointment: delegation of function
  88. Miscellaneous
  89. 68Offences
  90. 69Part III of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)
  91. 70International assistance
  92. 71Exercise of functions by Secretary of State
  93. General
  94. 72Crown application
  95. 73Consequential, transitional and incidental provision
  96. 74Regulations and orders
  97. 75Interpretation
  98. 76Index of defined expressions
  99. 77Extent
  100. Part 4: Shipping: Alcohol and Drugs
  101. Offences
  102. 78Professional staff on duty
  103. 79Professional staff off duty
  104. 80Non-professionals
  105. 81Prescribed limit
  106. Enforcement
  107. 82Penalty
  108. 83Specimens, &c.
  109. 84Detention pending arrival of police
  110. 85Arrest without warrant
  111. 86Right of entry
  112. General
  113. 87Consequential repeal
  114. 88Orders and regulations
  115. 89Interpretation
  116. 90Crown application, &c.
  117. 91Territorial application
  118. Part 5: Aviation: Alcohol and Drugs
  119. Offences
  120. 92Being unfit for duty
  121. 93Prescribed limit
  122. 94Aviation functions
  123. Enforcement
  124. 95Penalty
  125. 96Specimens, &c.
  126. 97Arrest without warrant
  127. 98Right of entry
  128. General
  129. 99Regulations
  130. 100Crown application
  131. 101Military application
  132. 102Territorial application
  133. Part 6: Miscellaneous
  134. 103Convention on International Carriage by Rail
  135. 104Office of Rail Regulation: general duties Repealed
  136. 105Railways safety levy
  137. 106Railway security services
  138. 107Road traffic: testing for drink and drugs
  139. 108Traffic regulation on long distance routes Not yet in force
  140. 109Road traffic: fixed penalty Repealed
  141. 110Seat belts: delivery drivers
  142. 111Highways: snow and ice
  143. 112Shipping legislation: application to structures, craft, &c.
  144. 113Maritime security services
  145. 114Railways in London: transfers
  146. 115Railways in London: information
  147. Part 7: General
  148. 116Schedules 1 and 4: sequestration, &c. in Scotland
  149. 117Interpretation: enactment
  150. 118Repeals
  151. 119Money
  152. 120Commencement
  153. 121Extent
  154. 122Short title
  155. Schedule 1: Office of Rail and Road
  156. Constitution
  157. 1Paragraph 1
  158. 2Paragraph 2
  159. Staff
  160. 3Paragraph 3
  161. 4Paragraph 4
  162. 5Paragraph 5
  163. Proceedings
  164. 6Paragraph 6
  165. 7(1)Paragraph 7(1)
  166. 8Paragraph 8
  167. 9Paragraph 9
  168. 10Paragraph 10
  169. Money
  170. 11Paragraph 11
  171. 12Paragraph 12
  172. 13Paragraph 13
  173. 14Paragraph 14
  174. 15Paragraph 15
  175. 16Paragraph 16
  176. Conflict of interest
  177. 17Paragraph 17
  178. 18Paragraph 18
  179. Schedule 2: Abolition of Rail Regulator: Consequential Amendments
  180. Part 1: Railways Act 1993 (c. 43)
  181. 1Paragraph 1
  182. 2Paragraph 2
  183. 3Paragraph 3
  184. 4Paragraph 4
  185. 5Paragraph 5
  186. 6Paragraph 6
  187. 7Paragraph 7
  188. 8Paragraph 8
  189. 9Paragraph 9
  190. 10Paragraph 10
  191. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  192. 12Paragraph 12
  193. 13Paragraph 13
  194. 14Paragraph 14
  195. 15Paragraph 15
  196. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  197. 17Paragraph 17
  198. 18Paragraph 18
  199. Part 2: Other Acts
  200. General
  201. 19Paragraph 19
  202. 20Paragraph 20
  203. House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24)
  204. 21Paragraph 21
  205. Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996 (c. 61)
  206. 22Paragraph 22
  207. Greater London Authority Act 1999 (c. 29)
  208. 23Paragraph 23
  209. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8)
  210. 24Paragraph 24
  211. Schedule 3: Abolition of Rail Regulator: Savings, &c.
  212. 1Paragraph 1
  213. 2Paragraph 2
  214. 3Paragraph 3
  215. 4Paragraph 4
  216. 5Paragraph 5
  217. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  218. 7Paragraph 7
  219. Schedule 4: British Transport Police Authority
  220. Part 1: Membership
  221. Appointment
  222. 1Paragraph 1
  223. 2Paragraph 2
  224. Tenure
  225. 3Paragraph 3
  226. Chairman and deputy chairman
  227. 4Paragraph 4
  228. 5Paragraph 5
  229. 6Paragraph 6
  230. Disqualification
  231. 7Paragraph 7
  232. 8Paragraph 8
  233. Part 2: Proceedings
  234. Standards of conduct
  235. 9Paragraph 9
  236. Staff
  237. 10Paragraph 10
  238. 11Paragraph 11
  239. Committees
  240. 12Paragraph 12
  241. Procedure
  242. 13Paragraph 13
  243. 14Paragraph 14
  244. Validity of proceedings
  245. 15Paragraph 15
  246. Part 3: Money and property
  247. The British Transport Police Fund
  248. 16Paragraph 16
  249. 17Paragraph 17
  250. 17AParagraph 17A
  251. 18Paragraph 18
  252. Budget
  253. 19Paragraph 19
  254. 20Paragraph 20
  255. Members: remuneration, allowances, &c.
  256. 21Paragraph 21
  257. General staff: remuneration, allowances, &c.
  258. 22Paragraph 22
  259. Constables, &c.: remuneration, allowances, &c.
  260. 23Paragraph 23
  261. Pensions
  262. 24Paragraph 24
  263. 25Paragraph 25
  264. 26Paragraph 26
  265. Income
  266. 27Paragraph 27
  267. 28Paragraph 28
  268. 29Paragraph 29
  269. 30Paragraph 30
  270. Property
  271. 31Paragraph 31
  272. Financial year
  273. 32Paragraph 32
  274. Part 4: Miscellaneous
  275. Status
  276. 33Paragraph 33
  277. Schedule 5: British Transport Police: Consequential Amendments>
  278. British Transport Commission Act 1949 (c. xxix)
  279. 1Paragraph 1
  280. Railways Act 1993 (c. 43)
  281. 2Paragraph 2
  282. Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c. 24)
  283. 3Paragraph 3
  284. General
  285. 4Paragraph 4
  286. Schedule 6: Convention on International Carriage by Rail
  287. Part PROVISION WHICH MAY BE INCLUDED IN REGULATIONS MAD
  288. Introduction
  289. 1Paragraph 1
  290. General
  291. 2Paragraph 2
  292. Changes to Convention
  293. 3Paragraph 3
  294. 4Paragraph 4
  295. Imposition of conditions
  296. 5Paragraph 5
  297. Sanctions
  298. 6Paragraph 6
  299. Related legal proceedings
  300. 7Paragraph 7
  301. Enforcement of judgments
  302. 8Paragraph 8
  303. Special drawing rights
  304. 9Paragraph 9
  305. Saving
  306. 10Paragraph 10
  307. Schedule 7: Road Traffic: Testing for Drink and Drugs
  308. 1Paragraph 1
  309. 2Paragraph 2
  310. 3Paragraph 3
  311. 4Paragraph 4
  312. 5Paragraph 5
  313. 6Paragraph 6
  314. 7Paragraph 7
  315. 8Paragraph 8
  316. 9Paragraph 9
  317. 10Paragraph 10
  318. 11Paragraph 11
  319. 12Paragraph 12
  320. 13Paragraph 13
  321. Schedule 8Repeals