RIA comments on Infrastructure Pipeline update

9 March 2026

Commenting on the Infrastructure Pipeline update, RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “The Railway Industry Association (RIA) acknowledges today’s first update of the National Infrastructure Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) pipeline, which is intended to provide clarity on future infrastructure workforce needs.

“RIA has campaigned for years for a clear and visible pipeline of work to be published ever since the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline was launched in 2019, and so it is refreshing that our concerns around regular project visibility, clear communication and delivery timescales have been raised - with recommendations to address them - in today’s NISTA report.

“Rail businesses across the supply chain will welcome the overall annual funding set out in today’s update, but a lack of detail on individual schemes still makes it difficult for companies to invest in people, skills and plant, and to develop their short and medium term business plans at what is a difficult time currently for many in the railway industry.

“Last month the cross-party MPs on the Transport Select Committee said, ‘a consistent strategic vision of what the railway is for and how it will contribute to Government’s priorities is essential for providing underlying consistency and confidence.’ So alongside the enhanced visibility of NISTA’s projects pipeline published today - and a commensurate need for a rolling stock strategy and pipeline to be published as soon as possible - rail suppliers will hope that the standing up of Great British Railways over the next year presents an opportunity for a new approach to rail investment, bringing track and train closer together, and enabling more details on individual projects to be published, so rail suppliers can plan and invest with more certainty for the future.”

Notes to Editors

Read the Government press release here.
Image source: M Barratt / Shutterstock.com
About NISTA: The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) will ensure the government’s strategies for infrastructure and service transformation deliver the growth and opportunity the country needs, bringing key decision making closer to spending decisions in HM Treasury (HMT) and giving Ministers the levers they need to push improvements in infrastructure and service transformation to drive growth. More here.
About the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP): The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline was launched in 2018 and set out a new approach for rail proposals that require government funding. More here.
About the Railway Industry Association: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) champions a dynamic UK rail supply sector. We help to grow a sustainable, and high-performing railway as well as promoting UK rail expertise and products to international markets. Rail is a foundation sector for the UK’s economy which supports sustainable investment and jobs in communities across the UK. For every £1 in the rail transport system, over £2.50 of value is generated in the wider economy. The whole rail industry contributes £41 billion in economic value and £14 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as supporting over 640,000 jobs throughout the UK. For every job in rail transport sector, a further four jobs elsewhere in the UK economy are supported. And every job in the rail supply chain is 29% more productive than the UK average, reflecting many highly-skilled jobs in the sector. RIA has over 450 members and 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). www.riagb.org.uk