The Department for Transport was established in May 2002. The number of people employed with a specific responsibility for rail transport including Rail Accident Investigation Branch (operational from October 2005) and the transfer of the Strategic Rail Authority's responsibilities (from July 2005) for each year since 2002 were:
Rail directorates Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) Total May 2002 70 — 70 April 2002 72 — 72 April 2004 84 4 88 April 2005 90 36 126 April 2006 219 45 264