This page sets out what rail systems are excluded from the mainline railway requirements of the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006 (as amended) (ROGS).
ROGS give us discretion to exclude from the mainline railway requirements certain transport systems. They fall within one or more of the following categories:
- metros and other light rail systems;
- networks that are functionally separate from the rest of the mainline railway and intended only for the operation of local, urban or suburban passenger services, as well as transport undertakings operating solely on these networks;
- heritage, museum or tourist railways that operate on their own networks; and
- heritage vehicles that operate on both the mainline railway and complies with national safety rules.
We have published an approved list of transport systems that are excluded from the mainline railway. There is also the following 'blanket exclusion' from the mainline railway:
- Privately owned infrastructure that exists solely for use by the infrastructure owner for its own freight operations.
Applicants may seek changes to the approved list by contacting us. For further information on the process for making an application, please see our guidance document.
There may be circumstances where a transport undertaking that is excluded from ROGS requirements needs to undertake an activity that would normally require a safety certificate or safety authorisation. Guidance on applying for such an exemption is available. ORR will only consider an application for an exemption for non-mainline operations from the requirement to hold a non-mainline safety certificate or non-mainline safety authorisation. We would expect to grant any such exemption in exceptional circumstances.