Railway Regulation Act 1840^[1]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act for regulating Railways.
Citation	3 & 4 Vict. c. 97
Dates
Royal assent	10 August 1840
Other legislation
Amended by	Criminal Statutes Repeal Act 1861 Summary Jurisdiction Act 1884
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Railway Regulation Act 1840 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Railway Regulation Act 1840 (3 & 4 Vict. c. 97) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It brought regulation to the fast-growing railway industry in the United Kingdom.

It is one of the Railway Regulation Acts 1840 to 1893.^[2]

The Railways Department of the Board of Trade (the predecessor of His Majesty's Railway Inspectorate) was created to fulfil this task.

Measures contained in the Act were:

• No railway to be opened without notice to the Board of Trade
• Returns to be made by railway companies
• Appointment of Board of Trade railway inspectors
• Railway byelaws to be approved by the Board
• Prohibition of drunkenness by railway employees
• Prohibition of obstruction of the railway
• Prohibition of trespass on railways

As of 2011, Section 16 of the Act, For punishment of persons obstructing the officers of any railway company, or trespassing upon any railway remains in force, as subsequently amended. The remainder has been repealed and replaced.

• Halsbury's Statutes,

• The Railway Regulation Act 1840 at railwaysarchive.co.uk
• The Railway Regulation Act 1840, as amended from the National Archives.
• The Railway Regulation Act 1840, as originally enacted from the National Archives.