RIA responds to rail industry review announced today
20 September 2018
The Government has announced an independent review of the UK railway system, to be led by former British Airways Chief Executive Keith Williams.
In response, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA) said: “We understand this review will consider all aspects of the industry. This provides a welcome opportunity for input from the Railway Industry Association and rail suppliers, who form a key component of the UK’s rail system and are a significant driver of economic growth, investment and jobs.
“RIA looks forward to informing the review, to see how the rail supply community can deliver even more for passengers and taxpayers, particularly by smoothing out ‘boom and busts’ in rail funding, developing even more innovative technologies and processes, and by ensuring there is a visible pipeline of work for rail companies in the future.
“Whatever form the review takes, it mustn’t throw the industry into stasis, with a loss of work momentum and certainty for the supply chain.
“Normal business must continue during the review, we must not simply put things on hold whilst the review is conducted”.
Notes to Editors
- The Government announcement on the review can be found here.
- About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the trade association for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. It has some 200 companies in membership, in 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.