Railways Act 2005

Reports and investigations

4 (1) The Office of Rail Regulation may authorise a person to investigate and make a special report on any accident, occurrence, situation or other matter of any sort which that Office thinks it necessary or expedient to investigate—

(a) for any of the railway safety purposes; or

(b) with a view to the making of regulations for any of those purposes.

(2) The Office of Rail Regulation may cause—

(a) the contents of a special report made under this paragraph, or

(b) so much of them as it considers appropriate,

to be made public at such time, and in such manner, as it thinks fit.

(3) Where a person who is not a member, officer or employee of the Office of Rail Regulation carries out an investigation and makes a special report under this paragraph, that Office may pay him such remuneration and expenses as the Secretary of State determines.

(4) The Office of Rail Regulation may, to such extent as the Secretary of State may determine, defray the other costs (if any) of—

(a) an investigation under this paragraph; or

(b) the making of a special report following such an investigation.

(5) In section 14(1) of the 1974 Act (matters about which investigations etc. may be required or authorised by the HSC), for “it is” substitute—

“(a) those general purposes shall be treated as not including the railway safety purposes; but

(b) it is otherwise”.