ORR will need new skills to regulate Lower Thames Crossing, review finds
The DBIST review says the regulator must build capability before the Lower Thames Crossing proceeds, with the Department for Transport to reply later this autumn.
Trust 60Craft 80Hype 15How this was reported ▾
Only one outlet, but includes named source (Robert Cook) and cites the DBIST review document.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
Provides context, quotes stakeholders, separates facts from comments, and notes the upcoming government response.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Measured language with no sensational claims; headline matches article content.
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The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) released an independent regulatory review of the Office of Rail and Road on 3 September 2026. The document concludes that the regulator will need new capability and skills to oversee any future road scheme financed under a regulated asset base, with the Lower Thames Crossing identified as the first such project.
The review forms part of a wider programme of regulator assessments aimed at aligning performance with government transport priorities. It notes that while the ORR is respected for its independence and its economics and safety expertise, the shift to a regulated‑asset‑base model will stretch its existing remit.
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Industry reaction
Robert Cook, policy and public affairs director at the Rail Industry Association, said the regulator must be equipped to provide an expert view of the railway’s long‑term asset condition. He added that clear, stable frameworks are needed to attract private capital to supplement public funding for rail projects.
We welcome this review. In particular, it is crucial the regulator is resourced to provide an expert view of the railway’s long‑term asset condition.
Robert Cook, Rail Industry Association
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An ORR spokesperson confirmed the regulator will now work closely with the Department for Transport to agree a path to implementation. The spokesperson said the agency welcomes the review and will collaborate with the DfT as it prepares its response.
The Department for Transport declined to comment when approached for comment. Sources indicate that the government plans to issue a formal response to the DBIST review later in the autumn.
Questions this report answers
+What did the independent review say about the ORR's role?
The review, published 3 September 2026, said the Office of Rail and Road will need new capability and skills to regulate future roads built under a regulated asset base, starting with the Lower Thames Crossing. It highlighted the need for a clear implementation pathway.
+When will the government respond to the review?
The Department for Transport has not commented, but the review notes that a government response is planned for later this autumn. The timing suggests the DfT will issue its reply after further internal discussion with the ORR.
+What did Robert Cook say about the regulator's resources?
Robert Cook, policy director at the Rail Industry Association, said the regulator must be resourced to provide an expert view of the railway’s long‑term asset condition. He stressed that adequate funding and expertise are essential for informed long‑term investment decisions.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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