Blog

Our latest monitoring report examines how open access rail services are evolving across domestic and international markets

We are responsible for issuing train driving licences for Britain’s mainline railway. To obtain and keep a licence, train drivers must be medically fit to carry out the role, and we approve suitably qualified doctors to carry out the medical assessments needed to determine this.

Today the Department for Business, Industry, Science and Trade has published Dr Richard Judge’s independent review of the Office of Rail and Road.

In this blog, I set out National Highways’ final position against its safety key performance indicator target for the second road period (RP2) and look ahead to our next annual safety report in January 2027.

Violence and harassment against rail workers remains a significant and growing concern across Great Britain’s railway. It is a challenge that we must work effectively together as an industry to tackle.

In our latest annual assessment, we find that Network Rail has continued to deliver efficiencies in how it operates, maintains and renews the national rail infrastructure. However, we also report that the company will deliver fewer renewals than originally planned.

This blog looks at what we have done to assess National Highways’ plans for the next five years and to update our approach to holding the company to account for performance, delivery and efficiency.

The train, from Newcastle to London King’s Cross, derailed into the path of an oncoming freight train. Ten people lost their lives that day, including the drivers of both trains, and 82 were seriously injured.

We have published updated Guidance on Rail Retailing, following a public consultation in autumn 2025.