Rail and Road Pod

Stephen Bussell and Prentiss Clarke-Jones discuss our recent analysis of National Highways' regional performance during the second road period, and also our annual assessment of safety on the strategic road network.

The rail industry often requires workers to undertake safety-critical duties in remote and isolated locations, often during unsociable hours, and operating in these environments can present many challenges for them, including securing access to appropriate welfare facilities, such as toilets. In the latest episode of the Rail and Road Pod, Richard Hines, our HM chief inspector of railways, explain...

ORR's duties are wide-ranging, and its engineers are integral to the work carried out across both rail and road.  This can include evaluating infrastructure projects in the way they are managed, reviewing designs, and ensuring compliance with regulations. To mark the recent International Women in Engineering Day, Cherry Lam, Jenny Hamilton, Morwenna Corry and Rachel McDonnell spoke about why...

We speak to Jennifer Genevieve, deputy director in our economics, finance and markets team, and Sarah Shore, deputy director in our railway safety team to discuss how the rail industry determines what is "reasonably practicable" when making safety-related decisions. This episode sheds light on ORR's ongoing review and its impact on the industry.

We speak to Rachel Gittens, Deputy Director for Strategic Road Network, and Iain Ritchie, Head of Safety and Performance, to learn more about ORR's recent annual assessment and investigation of National Highways. 

In this episode we join a conversation between Ian Prosser CBE, who recently retired as Chief Inspector of Railways, and his successor Richard Hines.    Ian takes a look back at the successes and challenges during his 15 years in the role and offers advice to Richard, who also shares what he expects to achieve in his new role.

In this podcast Jacqui Russell, the head of our Consumer team, and Matt Westlake, who leads on accessibility matters, will both provide an insight into the recent work of their team who review the many aspects of the rail passenger experience. They also look ahead to a busy 2024. And Dr Ralitsa Hiteva talks about the value of her involvement with ORR's Consumer Expert Panel.

New, major, upgraded or renewed infrastructure and rolling stock applicants have to follow a framework and seek an authorisation from the ORR before placing the infrastructure or rolling stock into service. In this podcast we'll learn about the path to applying for authorisation and the role the ORR plays to help the applicants, such as those who oversaw the upgraded Gatwick Airport and Castl...

Highways UK brings together the people responsible for managing, maintaining, and future-proofing the nation's road networks.  Over the course of the two-day event our roads team discussed areas including our Annual Assessment of National Highways and the next Road Investment Strategy, RIS3.  In this podcast we catch up with: Feras Alshaker, ORR director of planning and performance Nick Harri...

In this episode, we take a look at the journey taken by a trainee inspector of railways at the Office of Rail and Road. We speak to two current trainee inspectors, an ORR inspector who explains what is needed to make the grade and Ian Prosser, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Railways, gives his advice to those taking their first steps. Find out more about our safety work . Contact us on podcast@o...

In this episode, we take a look at the safety work we do in the heritage sector. Simon Barber, our principal inspector of heritage, and Richard Hines, our deputy chief inspector of non-mainline, discuss the frequent occurrences of working-at-height accidents, how the sector can benefit from the Risk Management Maturity Model, co-operation with the Heritage Railway Association and what steps the se...

In this episode, Chief Executive, John Larkinson discusses ORR's role in rail reform. Recorded at the Accelerate Rail event in London on 21 March, John explains how rail reform and the implementation of Great British Railways will lead to significant change at ORR.  He goes on to describe how things will need to be done differently because of a much bigger role for the organisation. 

In this episode we discuss the Railway Work, Life & Death project, which takes a look back at railway worker accidents in Britain and Ireland from the late 1880s to 1939.  We're joined by Dr Mike Esbester, a senior lecturer in history at the University of Portsmouth.   The Office of Rail and Road has been pleased to be able to help the project, which is a joint initiative between the Univ...

In this episode we're out and about at the Highways UK event which took place at the NEC in Birmingham. We hear from John Larkinson, Chief Executive of ORR, Anthony Smith, Chief Executive, Transport Focus, and Nick Harris, Chief Executive, National Highways. They discussed smart motorways as part of a panel discussion during the event.  Also from ORR, you'll hear from Sneha Patel, Deputy...

As Britain's rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road plays a vital role in improving the passenger experience in compensation, passenger information and accessibility. In this episode, the Rail and Road Pod takes a closer look at some of the work of its consumer team.   The first half of this episode focuses on ORR's role in improving accessibility on the rail network by holding oper...

The topic of conversation this month ties in with International Women's Day on 8 March, the day which celebrates women's achievement and raises awareness against gender bias.  Our topic for discussion is women in transport, specifically how both the rail and road industries are changing to improve their culture to be more inclusive, flexible, and open and encourage more women into roles...

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent monitor of National Highways' performance and efficiency. This role was established in 2015 as part of the Government's road reform package.  Since then, ORR has been holding National Highways (formerly Highways England) to account for the management of the strategic road network - the major motorways and major A roads in England. In t...

You Tuber, Geoff Marshall takes over the reins as guest host to discuss all things railway stats. Geoff's joined by guests from the Office of Rail and Road and the Office for Statistics Regulation to learn more about some of the statistics that the Office of Rail and Road produces. Geoff delves deep into why railway statistics are published by the Office of Rail and Road, how they are used, w...

On our 9th episode, we’re taking another look at accessibility on Britain's railway.  We're discussing disability awareness and equality training that forms an integral part of the requirements set out in the Office of Rail and Road’s Accessible Travel Policy Guidance. In this year alone, tens of thousands of railway staff have undertaken the training that is designed to help with unders...

On this, the second episode focusing on heritage railways, the Rail and Road Pod visits Aln Valley Railway in Northumberland to continue the discussion on how ORR and the heritage sector are collaborating to maximise safety. Once again, host Kenny Walker, is joined in conversation by Ian Skinner, Office of Rail and Road’s Head of Non-Mainline and lead for Heritage Railway safety; Steve Oates, chie...

In this episode, the Rail and Road Pod looks at how the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) holds Network Rail to account for its performance and efficiency.    The podcast takes an in-depth look at some of the key findings from the rail regulator's recently published Annual Assessment of Network Rail.    Three of ORR’s Senior Regulation Managers join the Pod to talk about what went well in each of...

In this episode, the Rail and Road Pod visits the Rail Live exhibition at the ‎Quinton Rail Technology Centre in Warwickshire. The event, over two days, brings the entire rail industry together in a real railway environment. Over the two days, we spoke to Rail Live's Managing Editor, Nigel Harris, who discussed planning for the 2021 event and also with a number of rail industry professionals...

In this, the first of a two-part episode, the Rail and Road Pod hears about how heritage railways are safely returning for passengers and how one particular railway has delivered improvements over the last year. To discuss, the Pod is joined by Ian Skinner, Office of Rail and Road’s Head of Non-Mainline and lead for Heritage Railway safety; Steve Oates, chief executive of the Heritage Railway Asso...

Highways England maintains, renews, operates and improves the strategic road network – the motorways and main 'A' roads in England.   The Office of Rail and Road is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the performance and efficiency of Highways England, and holds the company to account for its management of the strategic road network.  In this episode of the Rail and Road Pod, we fin...