Produced by Francis How
(Railway Industry Association)
Last updated: 12 June 2015
Rail Industry Structure of the GB national rail network
Treasury
Provides funding
Establishes franchise agreements
with TOCs for defined
service levels,
subsidies and payments
Department for Transport
(England and Wales);
Transport Scotland (Scotland)
Provides funding in 5 yearly cycles
against agreed outputs/objectives
TRAIN OPERATORS
(TOCs)
Lease rolling stock
to TOCs
ROLLING STOCK
LEASING
COMPANIES
Provides access to track,
paid for by TOCs
Procures rolling stock modifications
maintenance services etc
Pay for train travel
PASSENGERS
NETWORK RAIL
Provides access to track,
paid for by FOCs
Procures infrastructure
Systems, upgrades,
modifications
and services
SUPPLIERS
FREIGHT OPERATORS
(FOCs)
Pay for freight services
FREIGHT CUSTOMERS
Procures locomotives, wagons,
modification and maintenance services
Procures (most) new
passenger rolling stock
Procures rolling stock modifications
maintenance services etc
Other organisations involved in the GB rail industry:
OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD (ORR)
Responsible for: Monitoring safety and
enforcing improvement where necessary;
Monitoring/regulating NR’s performance;
Ensuring fair access to track for operators.
RAIL DELIVERY GROUP
Aims to promote greater co-operation between
TOCs and Network Rail through leadership in the
industry and by working together with
Government, the supply chain and stakeholders.
RAIL SUPPLY GROUP
Brings together Government (BIS and DfT) and the
Rail Industry in collaboration to strengthen the
capability and competitiveness of the UK rail supply
chain to win business at home and abroad
RSSB
Not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is
to support the industry to improve the level of
safety in the rail industry, drive out
unnecessary cost and improve business
performance. Includes FutureRailway Group.
RAIL ACCIDENT AND INVESTIGATION BRANCH
(RAIB)
Responsible for investigating the causes of
accidents and incidents, and for making
recommendations based on the lesson learned.
ASSOCIATION OF TRAIN OPERATING COs (ATOC)
Represents the interests of train companies to
enhance the benefits for passengers of Britain’s
national rail network. Also responsible for some
commercial matters such as ticketing systems.
RAIL FREIGHT GROUP
The leading representative body for rail freight
in the UK. Works to promote rail freight,
helping to highlight the benefits of using rail
freight.
RAILWAY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (RIA)
The Railway Industry Association is the principal
representative body for UK-based suppliers of
equipment and services to the world-wide
industry.
RAIL RESEARCH UK ASSOCIATION (RRUKA)
Partnership between the UK rail industry and UK
universities. Seeks to enhance collaborative
relationships between academia and the railway
industry.
NATIONAL SKILLS ACADEMY FOR RAIL
ENGINEERING (NSARE)
Provides services and support for growing the
skills capability and resources needed to
deliver the railway’s engineering objectives.
RAIL INDUSTRY SUPPLIER QUALIFICATION
SCHEME (RISQS)
The GB rail industry’s principal supplier
qualification scheme, enabling suppliers to prequalify for work on the railway.
RAIL INDUSTRY SUPPLIER APPROVAL SCHEME
(RISAS)
The GB rail industry’s scheme for the approval of
suppliers undertaking safety-critical work on
railway systems (principally rolling stock).
PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The Professional Institutions relevant to GB railways are represented collectively by the Railway
Engineers Forum. The Institutions aim to support their members by enabling their professional
development throughout their career. They include the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Institution
of Railway Signal Engineers, Permanent Way Institution, Railway Civil Engineers Association, Institution
of Railway Operators and others.