(1)  The Rail Safety Regulator –

(a) may audit the railway operations of a rail transport operator; and

(b) may prepare and implement a program (in this section referred to as " an audit program " ) for each year for inspecting the railway operations of rail transport operators; and

(c) may, for the purposes of an audit, inspect the railway operations of a rail transport operator whether or not the inspection takes place under an audit program.

(2)  Without limiting subsection (1)(b) , an audit program may focus on one or more of the following:

(a) particular rail transport operators;

(b) particular criteria relating to rail transport operators;

(c) particular aspects of rail safety;

(d) particular aspects of railway operations.

(3)  The Rail Safety Regulator must give not less than 24 hours' notice in writing to a rail transport operator before inspecting the operator's railway operations under this section.

(4)  The regulations may establish procedures for the conduct of audits under this section, including procedures to ensure the confidentiality of records.

(5)  In this section –

rail transport operator includes a person, not being an employee employed to carry out railway operations, who undertakes railway operations on or in relation to rail infrastructure or rolling stock of a rail transport operator.