In a joint response, Northern Rail Industry Leaders (NRIL), Rail Forum Midlands (RFM) and the Railway Industry Association (RIA), have submitted evidence to the National Infrastructure Commission's call for evidence on a Rail Needs Assessment in the Midlands and the North of England.

The response calls for:

• HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Rail Hub all to be delivered, in full and integrated with one another and the current network;
• The capabilities of the rail industry to be considered in the sequencing and pacing of the projects, to ensure the sector can build up capacity to deliver this ambitious programme of projects;
• That Government, Sub National Transport Bodies and client bodies work with the rail industry to ensure efficient delivery;
• That decarbonisation, skills, digitalisation and innovation are considered throughout the lifetime of these rail projects; and
• That we learn from earlier projects and look for opportunities to reduce overhead costs and bring forward early development work at pace.