Britain’s rail regulator has proposed a code of practice to govern Great British Railways when it both operates an online ticket retailer and manages functions used by competing sellers.
The Office of Rail and Road opened the consultation Friday. Its draft is intended to address the conflicts that can arise when one body controls market-wide systems, data or access arrangements while also selling tickets to passengers. The regulator says those roles require transparent and non-discriminatory treatment of other retailers.
The code would sit alongside competition law, licensing, accreditation, contracts and public-law duties rather than replace them. Great British Railways’ future network licence is expected to include a condition requiring compliance, giving the code a formal route into the regulator’s oversight.
The consultation covers England, Scotland and Wales and seeks responses from existing and prospective retailers, investors, regional governments and train operators. It closes on December 11. Until the final text and licence condition are adopted, the document is a proposal, not an enforceable determination.
Read the regulator’s consultation materials
