We speak to Rachel Gittens, Deputy Director for Strategic Road Network, and Iain Ritchie, Head of Safety and Performance, to learn more about ORR's recent annual assessment and investigation of National Highways.

In this episode we join a conversation between Ian Prosser CBE, who recently retired as Chief Inspector of Railways, and his successor Richard Hines.

Ian takes a look back at the successes and challenges during his 15 years in the role and offers advice to Richard, who also shares what he expects to achieve in his new role.

In this podcast Jacqui Russell, the head of our Consumer team, and Matt Westlake, who leads on accessibility matters, will both provide an insight into the recent work of their team who review the many aspects of the rail passenger experience. They also look ahead to a busy 2024.

And Dr Ralitsa Hiteva talks about the value of her involvement with ORR's Consumer Expert Panel.

New, major, upgraded or renewed infrastructure and rolling stock applicants have to follow a framework and seek an authorisation from the ORR before placing the infrastructure or rolling stock into service.

In this podcast we'll learn about the path to applying for authorisation and the role the ORR plays to help the applicants, such as those who oversaw the upgraded Gatwick Airport and Castleford stations, East Linton and Brent Cross West, London's newest mainline station.

Highways UK brings together the people responsible for managing, maintaining, and future-proofing the nation's road networks.

Over the course of the two-day event our roads team discussed areas including our Annual Assessment of National Highways and the next Road Investment Strategy, RIS3.

In this podcast we catch up with:

• Feras Alshaker, ORR director of planning and performance
• Nick Harris, chief executive officer of National Highways, who manage England's motorways and A-roads
• Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users
• Sneha Patel, ORR deputy director for roads

In this episode, we take a look at the journey taken by a trainee inspector of railways at the Office of Rail and Road.

We speak to two current trainee inspectors, an ORR inspector who explains what is needed to make the grade and Ian Prosser, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Railways, gives his advice to those taking their first steps.

Find out more about our safety work.

Contact us on podcast@orr.gov.uk.

In this episode, we take a look at the safety work we do in the heritage sector.

Simon Barber, our principal inspector of heritage, and Richard Hines, our deputy chief inspector of non-mainline, discuss the frequent occurrences of working-at-height accidents, how the sector can benefit from the Risk Management Maturity Model, co-operation with the Heritage Railway Association and what steps the sector needs to take in order to improve safety.

Find out more about the ORR's heritage railways work.

Contact us on podcast@orr.gov.uk.

In this episode, Chief Executive, John Larkinson discusses ORR's role in rail reform.

Recorded at the Accelerate Rail event in London on 21 March, John explains how rail reform and the implementation of Great British Railways will lead to significant change at ORR. He goes on to describe how things will need to be done differently because of a much bigger role for the organisation.