Office of Rail and Road hires CPCS to provide strategic advice on its future role
The UK’s independent economic and safety regulator has asked CPCS to help shape its future oversight responsibilities under Great British Railways.
Summary
- CPCS, the global infrastructure consulting firm, will deliver strategic advice and analysis, helping the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) define its future monitoring responsibilities under new governance arrangements for both passenger and freight rail.
- The UK’s Railways Bill sets the stage for a major rail sector overhaul, integrating train and track and returning operations to public ownership.
- Under new legislation, the ORR’s mandate will shift, particularly its economic oversight role.
Britain’s Rail Reform
On November 5, 2025, the UK government laid before Parliament the Railways Bill, as the legislative basis for the most significant change in Britain’s railways in decades. The legislation will integrate rail operations with the management of infrastructure under Great British Railways (GBR) by 2027. GBR will serve as the “directing mind” for the network, overseeing rail infrastructure, timetabling, ticketing, and operations.
This reform will reshape the responsibilities of numerous public and private organisations, including the ORR.
ORR’s evolving mandate
While ORR’s safety oversight role will remain largely unchanged, its economic responsibilities will shift significantly under the Railways Bill.
The regulator will need to adapt its monitoring frameworks to align with GBR’s integrated structure and ensure accountability for passengers and taxpayers.
“We are pleased to support the ORR as they plan for their evolving role and ensure that benefits are delivered for passengers and taxpayers,” says Steve Allen, CPCS Vice President, UK and Europe.
Leveraging experience from international rail markets
CPCS will provide ORR with strategic advice and analysis to define their future role once GBR is established, including:
- Developing future monitoring frameworks for GBR and other industry stakeholders to ensure accountability, transparency, and performance excellence.
- Outlining strategic options and transition pathways that will enable ORR to adapt to its economic oversight role effectively.
- Bringing best practices and lessons learned from regulatory reform in the UK and internationally, drawing on CPCS’s particular specialism in rail governance and the management of operational performance.
UK Transport Advisors
As specialists in rail, freight, and transportation, CPCS supports government agencies around the world in designing policy frameworks and governance models — both for rail and other regulated industries. Our team brings extensive experience in all aspects of railway performance and project delivery.
Immersed in the UK rail sector: Our subject matter experts bring hands-on knowledge and experience of operational and commercial aspects of the UK’s passenger and freight railway operations, infrastructure management, rolling stock operations, governance and procurement models, and organizational change. This practical insight allows us to assess the real-world impact of rail reform policies and provide recommendations that work in practice — not just on paper.
Expert to contact
- Steve Allen, Vice President, UK and Europe
- Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
- communications@cpcs.ca
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