Rail industry responds to Queen’s Speech

The rail industry has responded to the Queen’s Speech, delivered today.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “With the Williams Review due to report shortly, the Railway Industry Association urges that any changes to the structure of the UK railways must consider the entirety of the rail industry, including rail suppliers, who provide the products and services that keep our rail network running, as well as, of course, infrastructure and the train operators.

“For these businesses, many of whom are RIA members, it is paramount that changes to the structure of the rail sector do not lead to a pause in work on our railways or a hiatus in longer-term investment, which is so essential in keeping passengers and freight moving and our economy growing – both now and in the future. 

“It is encouraging to see the Government’s commitment to a National Infrastructure Strategy – RIA has been calling for a 30-year plan for the railways for some time. As far as our members are concerned, the rail supply sector requires a long term strategy for UK rail, which stops ‘boom and bust’ rail funding for infrastructure and rolling stock once and for all, and which provides consistency and visibility of upcoming enhancements work. Getting this right will allow rail business to deliver much more effectively the improvements expected by passengers and freight, whilst also creating and sustaining high value jobs and growing exports in these uncertain times.”

1. 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