Goal and description of roles

The Authority will direct its efforts towards ensuring that rail traffic is operated in a safe and appropriate manner in the best interests of passengers, the rail company employees and the general public.

The Authority is responsible for ensuring that the rail operators meet the conditions and requirements that govern the traffic through rail legislation. The authority is also responsible for drawing up regulations, etc., awarding licences for rail activity and approving rolling stock and infrastructure. As of 01. january 2009 the Inspectorate also has a regulatory body- function, to monitor railway markets and to act as an appeal body for rail companies if they believe they have been unfairly treated.

The tasks of the Authority do not include those areas of authority which belong to other public control and supervisory bodies, including the police, the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning and the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority.

Each rail operator (whether operating the track network, controlling the traffic or operating vehicles on the railway) has an independent responsibility for operating within the framework of the legislation and regulations, including carrying out the activity with the satisfactory degree of safety. This also includes providing documents which prove that safety is ensured, as well as planning the implementation of necessary measures, both of a technical and a management nature, in order to improve safety when it is not satisfactory.