3 July 2023
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is set to drive a key part of a new Transport Select Committee (TSC) inquiry into transport data.
Following a Dragon’s Den-style process as part of the TSC’s ‘Our Future Transport’ campaign, where MPs invited the public to pitch ideas on what the Committee should investigate, RIA’s submission on realising the benefits of data and digital transformation for rail was selected to form part of a new inquiry into the future of transport data.
As part of the TSC’s campaign, over 220 proposals were submitted on a range of topics before 12 applicants were shortlisted and invited to pitch to the MPs as part of the interview process. Innovation Director, Milda Manomaityte, who presented for RIA, called for an investigation into open access railway data regulation and digital and data skills for the future.
Commenting, RIA Innovation Director, Milda Manomaityte, said:
“We are excited that the Future of Transport Data has been chosen as the next Transport Select Committee inquiry, following the representations that RIA made to the TSC.
“We need to empower the supply chain to create innovative solutions when it comes to delivering a digital railway and this can only be done by having reliable access to good quality data.
“We would encourage all railway organisations, including RIA members who have contributed to our Data and Digital Technologies for Rail paper, to submit written evidence to the inquiry”.
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. RIA has 350 companies in membership in a sector that contributes £43 billion in economic growth and £14 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 710,000 people. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK; for every £1 spent in rail, £2.50 is generated in the wider economy. 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). www.riagb.org.uk