Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 Elizabeth II. Chapter 20

Format:

Corporate Author:

Great Britain

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

These Explanatory Notes relate to the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003. The Act creates an independent body tasked with establishing the causes of accidents on the railways. This body, which would be called the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, would be established on a similar model to that which already exists in the marine and aviation sectors. The Act provides for a Regulatory Board to replace the Rail Regulator, in line with standard practice for the regulation of utilities. It also creates a police authority for the British Transport Police Force ("BTP"), transferring responsibility to the new police authority. The Act introduces alcohol limits and related measures for crews on water-borne vessels. The Act is divided into seven parts, each part covering the following in detail: investigation of railway accidents; Office of Rail Regulation; British Transport Police; shipping: alcohol and drugs; aviation: alcohol and drugs. It applies to the whole of the UK.