Rail industry welcomes commitment from all major parties to electrification

25 November 2019

Following the publication of manifestos last week, the rail industry has welcomed the commitment from a number of major national political parties to rail electrification.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said:  “It is really encouraging to see a commitment to rail electrification in the main UK political party manifestos. This shows there is now considerable and widespread support for electrification, which will be essential if we are to decarbonise rail by 2040. It will also help us deliver real benefits to passenger and freight services, and boost connectivity across the UK, bringing jobs, investment and economic growth.

“The Railway Industry Association’s Electrification Cost Challenge report, published earlier this year, shows electrification can be delivered at up to half the costs of some past projects.

“For the political parties to deliver these benefits in future, they need to commit on taking office to a long-term rolling programme of electrification. Doing this allows the rail industry to deliver cost-effectively, and maintain expertise and capabilities whilst continually extending the frontier of electrified railway across the country.

“We look forward to working with whoever enters Government after 12 December, to deliver this ambitious electrification agenda.”

Notes to Editors

 

1. The commitments to electrification can be found in:

2. Around 40% of the UK rail network is electrified - much less than comparable European countries which are typically 60% or more electrified. Electrified railways have been shown to benefit passengers and the wider travelling public as it is:

  • Better for the environment with carbon emissions 60% lower than those from diesel trains today and 80% less with the estimated 2040 grid mix. They also produce no air pollutants at the point of use;
  • Quieter, reducing noise pollution for those living and working near the tracks and reduces noise and vibration for passengers;
  • Costs less in the long term when compared to the whole-life costs of diesel services;
  • Improves journey times due to superior braking and acceleration;
  • Is lighter, meaning less wear to the track and therefore less maintenance;
  • Reduces passenger delays, as electric trains are more reliable than diesel trains.

3. The electrification cost challenge can be found here

4. 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. We promote and represent our members’ interests to policy makers, clients and other stakeholders in the UK and overseas. RIA has 290+ 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 growing industry with the number of rail journeys expected to double over the next 25 years and freight set to grow significantly too. 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. www.riagb.org.uk