Rail Industry responds to London First letter calling for Eurostar safeguards

18 January 2021

 The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the trade body for the rail supply community, has responded to an open letter from London First to the Government, calling for safeguards to be put in place for Eurostar services.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “The Railway Industry Association, which represent rail businesses across the UK – including many of those within Eurostar’s supply chain – will be keen to see what can be done to ensure the cross-border rail line can continue to operate.

“Eurostar is a vital part of the country’s international connectivity, linking the UK with the continent and it supports thousands of jobs and investment, right across the country. In such turbulent times, following the Coronavirus pandemic, it is vital that Eurostar has the certainty it needs, and rail suppliers have the confidence and certainty they need, to enable it to continue to deliver services, and support the wider UK economy, not just now during these difficult months but also for the future recovery.”

 
Notes to Editors

 

  1. The London First letter can be found here
  2. 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.