Regulation of Railways Act 1873
1873 c.48
An Act to make better provision for carrying into effect the Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1854 and for other purposes connected therewith.
[21st July 1873]
This Act is not necessarily in the form in which it has effect in Northern Ireland
Act excluded (E.W.S.) (18.5.2009) by Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Media City Extension) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1100), art. 3(1)
Act excluded (E.W.S.) (9.6.2009) by Nottingham Express Transit System Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1300), art. 3(1) (with Sch. 13 para. 14(2), Sch. 14 para. 19, Sch. 16)
Act excluded (E.W.S.) (6.11.2013) by The Transport for Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Second City Crossing) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/2587), art. 3(1) (with arts. 42, 43)
Act excluded (E.W.S.) (9.1.2014) by The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3244), art. 3(1) (with arts. 57, 58, Sch. 11 para. 19)
Act excluded (E.W.S.) (24.11.2016) by The Transport for Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Trafford Park Extension) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/1035), art. 3(1) (with arts. 43, 44)
Act excluded (E.W.S.) (4.1.2018) by The Blackpool Tramway (Blackpool North Extension) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/1214), art. 3(1) (with arts. 3(3), 58, 59)

Preliminary

1 Short title.
This Act may be cited as “The Regulation of Railways Act 1873.”

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 2 repealed by Statute Law Revision (No. 2) Act 1893 (c. 54)

3 Definitions.
In this Act—
The term “railway company” includes any person being the owner or lessee of or working any railway in the United Kingdom constructed or carried on under the powers of any Act of Parliament:
The term “canal company” includes any person being the owner or lessee of, or working, or entitled to charge tolls for the use of any canal in the United Kingdom constructed or carried on under the powers of any Act of Parliament:
The term “person” includes a body of persons corporate or unincorporate:
The term “railway” includes every station, siding, wharf, or dock of or belonging to such railway and used for the purposes of public traffic:
The term “canal” includes any navigation which has been made under or upon which tolls may be levied by authority of Parliament, and also the wharves and landing-places of and belonging to such canal or navigation, and used for the purposes of public traffic:
The term “traffic” includes not only passengers and their luggage, goods, animals, and other things conveyed by any railway company or canal company, but also carriages, waggons, trucks, boats, and vehicles of every description adapted for running or passing on the railway or canal of any such company:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The term “special Act” means a local or local and personal Act, or an Act of a local and personal nature, and includes a Provisional Order of the Board of Trade confirmed by Act of Parliament, and a certificate granted by the Board of Trade under the Railways Construction Facilities Act 1864:
. . .
Definition of “mails” repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1989 (c. 43), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. X
1864 c. 121.
Definition repealed by Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888 (c. 25), Sch. and Statute Law Revision (No. 2) Act 1893 (c. 54)

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 4 repealed by Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888 (c. 25), Sch.

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 5 repealed by Railway and Canal Commission (Abolition) Act 1949 (c. 11), Sch.

6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 6–10 repealed by Transport Act 1962 (c. 46), s. 95(3), Sch. 12 Pt. I

Explanation and Amendment of Law

11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 11–13 repealed by Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888 (c. 25), Sch.

14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 14 repealed by Transport Charges &c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1954 (c. 64), Sch. 2 Pt. I

15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 15, 16 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1960 (c. 56)

17 Maintenance of canals by railway companies.
Every railway company owning or having the management of any canal or part of a canal shall at all times keep and maintain such canal or part, and all the reservoirs, works, and conveniences thereto belonging, thoroughly repaired and dredged and in good working condition, and shall preserve the supplies of water to the same, so that the whole of such canal or part may be at all times kept open and navigable for the use of all persons desirous to use and navigate the same without any unnecessary hindrance, interruption, or delay.
S. 17 excluded by Transport Act 1968 (c. 73), s. 105(5); power to exclude s. 17 conferred by ibid., s 112(1)

18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 18–20 repealed by Post Office Act 1953 (c. 36), Sch. 3

21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 21–25 repealed by Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888 (c. 25) Sch.

26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 26, 27 repealed by Railway and Canal Commission (Abolition) Act 1949 (c. 11), Sch.

28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 28, 29 repealed by Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888 (c. 25), Sch.

30–32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 30–32 repealed by Railway and Canal Commission (Abolition) Act 1949 (c. 11), Sch.

33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 33 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1883 (c. 39)

34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 34 repealed by Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888 (c. 25), Sch.

35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ss. 35, 36 repealed by Transport Act 1962 (c. 46), Sch. 12 Pt. I

37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 37 repealed by Railway and Canal Traffic Act 1888 (c. 25), Sch.