RIA welcomes Government positive words for rolling programme of electrification

18 May 2021

Today in the House of Lords Chamber Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Transport Minister Baroness Vere about the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA) recent ‘Why Rail Electrification?’ Report.

In response, Vere said that “the Government welcomes this report and agrees that further electrification is required to decarbonise the railway alongside the deployment of battery and hydrogen trains on some lines.” She added that “the best way to make most effective use of the supply chain is a rolling programme [of electrification]”.

In response, David Clarke, Technical Director of the Railway Industry Association, said: “It is welcome to see the Government acknowledge that a rolling programme of consistent electrification work is best for the rail supply chain. A steady, consistent profile of work would not only allow businesses to deliver more cost-effectively, it would also support skills, innovation and investment, whilst supporting the Government’s decarbonisation goals.

“As RIA’s RailDecarb21 campaign highlights, committing to an immediate start on electrification – as well as fleet orders of hydrogen and battery rolling stock – would help 'build back better' and showcase the UK’s international leadership on climate change ahead of COP26 this November.”
Notes to Editors

 

  1. More information on RIA’s RailDecarb21 Campaign can be found here
  2. RIA’s ‘Why Rail Electrification?’ Report can be found here
  3. About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. RIA has 300+ companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry.