Railways Act 1993

Other functions of the Regulator E+W+S

68 Investigatory functions. E+W+S

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, it shall be the duty of [F1 the Office of Rail Regulation] to investigate any alleged or apprehended contravention of—

(a) a condition of a licence F2 . . . , F3 . . .

F4 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

if the alleged or apprehended contravention is the subject of a representation (other than one appearing to him to be frivolous or vexatious) made to [F5 it] by or on behalf of a person who appears to [F1 the Office of Rail Regulation] to have an interest in the matter.

(2) [F1 the Office of Rail Regulation] may, if [F5 it] thinks fit, require [F6 the Rail Passengers' Council]to investigate and report to [F5 it] on any matter falling within subsection (1) above which relates to—

(a) the provision of services for the carriage of passengers by railway, or

(b) the provision of station services,

and which it would otherwise have been [F7 its] duty to investigate.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 68 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16, 120, {Sch. 2 para. 3(a) Table}; S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

F2 Words in s. 68(1)(a) repealed (24.7.2005) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), ss. 59, 60, Sch. 13 Pt. 1 (with s. 14(4)(5), Sch. 11 para. 11(2)); S.I. 2005/1909, art. 2, Sch.

F3 S. 68(1)(b) and word immediately preceding it repealed (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 274, Sch. 31 Pt. IV; S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F4 S. 68(1)(b) omitted (1.2.2001) by virtue of 2000 c. 38, s. 234(7) (with Sch. 28 paras. 12, 17); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F5 Words in s. 68 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16, 120, {Sch. 2 para. 3(b) Table}; S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

F6 Words in s. 68(2) substiuted (24.7.2005) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), s. 21(2); S.I. 2005/1909, art. 2, Sch.

F7 Word in s. 68 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16, 120, {Sch. 2 para. 3(c) Table}; S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 68 applied (with modifications) (28.11.2005) by The Railway (Licensing of Railway Undertakings) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3050), reg. 14, Sch. 3 para. 1(d)

69 General functions. E+W+S

(1) It shall be the duty of [F8 the Office of Rail Regulation] , so far as it appears to [F9 it] practicable from time to time to do so—

(a) to keep under review the provision, both in Great Britain and elsewhere, of railway services; and

(b) to collect information with respect to the provision of those services, with a view to facilitating the exercise of [F10 its] functions under this Part.

(2) The Secretary of State may give general directions indicating—

(a) considerations to which [F8 the Office of Rail Regulation] should have particular regard in determining the order of priority in which matters are to be brought under review in performing [F10 its] duty under subsection (1)(a) or (b) above; and

(b) considerations to which, in cases where it appears to [F8 the Office of Rail Regulation] that any of [F10 its] functions under this Part are exercisable, [F9 it] should have particular regard in determining whether to exercise those functions.

(3) It shall be the duty of [F8 the Office of Rail Regulation] , where either [F9 it] considers it expedient or [F9 it] is requested by the Secretary of State or [F11 the OFT] to do so, to give information, advice and assistance to the Secretary of State or [F11 the OFT] with respect to any matter in respect of which any function of [F8 the Office of Rail Regulation] under this Part is exercisable.

(4) If [F8 the Office of Rail Regulation]—

(a) is requested to do so by the [F12 Authority], or

(b) considers it appropriate to do so,

[F9 it] may provide the [F12 Authority] with any information which [F9 it] has which relates to the functions of the [F12 Authority].

Textual Amendments

F8 Words in s. 69 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16, 120, {Sch. 2 para. 3(a) Table}; S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

F9 Words in s. 69 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16, 120, {Sch. 2 para. 3(b) Table}; S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

F10 Words in s. 69 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16, 120, {Sch. 2 para. 3(c) Table}; S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

F11 Words in s. 69(3) substituted (1.4.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 30(10); S.I 2003/766, {art. 2}, Sch. (with transitional and transitory provision in art. 3)

F12 Words in s. 69(4) substituted (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 215, Sch. 16 para. 42; S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II) (which S.I. was amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(2))

F13 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F13 S. 70 repealed (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, ss. 216, 274, Sch. 17 para. 28(2), Sch. 31 Pt. IV; S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings and transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

71 Publication of information and advice. E+W+S

(1) [F14 the Office of Rail Regulation] may arrange for the publication, in such form and in such manner as [F15 it] considers appropriate, of such information and advice as it may appear to [F15 it] expedient to give to users or potential users of railway services in Great Britain.

(2) In arranging for the publication of any such information or advice [F14 the Office of Rail Regulation] shall have regard to the need for excluding, so far as that is practicable—

(a) any matter which relates to the affairs of an individual, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of [F14 the Office of Rail Regulation] , seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that individual; and

(b) any matter which relates specifically to the affairs of a particular body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, where publication of that matter would or might, in the opinion of [F14 the Office of Rail Regulation] , seriously and prejudicially affect the interests of that body.

(3) [F16 The OFT] shall consult [F14 the Office of Rail Regulation] before publishing under [F17 section 6 of the Enterprise Act 2002] any information or advice which may be published by [F14 the Office of Rail Regulation] under this section.

Textual Amendments

F14 Words in s. 71 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16, 120, {Sch. 2 para. 3(a) Table}; S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

F15 Word in s. 71 substituted (5.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 16, 120, {Sch. 2 para. 3(b) Table}; S.I. 2004/827, art. 4(g)

F16 Words in s. 71(3) substituted (1.4.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 30(11)(a); S.I 2003/766, {art. 2}, Sch. (with transitional and transitory provision in art. 3)

F17 Words in s. 71(3) substituted (20.6.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 30(11)(b); S.I. 2003/1397, art. 2(1), Sch.