9 June 2023
This week on Wednesday 7 June, the Rail North Committee (RNC) announced the election of a new Chair, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. The Rail North Committee advises the Transport for the North Board on rail services and infrastructure improvements and all matters relating to rail franchise and contract management in the Rail North area. As Chair, Andy Burnham will oversee the strategic direction of the Committee.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe Leader of Bradford Council, was announced as Majority group Vice Chair, and a Minority group Vice Chair is yet to be appointed. Andy Burnham takes over from Liverpool City Council leader, Councillor Liam Robinson.
Commenting, RIA North Chair Justin Moss, said: “On behalf of RIA North, I would like to congratulate Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, on becoming Chair of the Rail North Committee. The rail supply industry has met and worked closely with him and his team, and we look forward to further engagement with him, with his new role too and continuing this constructive relationship in the future.
“Rail passengers have been returning to rail in encouraging numbers post-Covid, despite the challenges of industrial action and poor service levels in some parts of the network. But there are of course concerns over delivering major rail projects in the North, such as HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and Transpennine Route Upgrade. RIA North and our supplier members are ready to work closely with the new Chair and the Rail North Committee members on an ambitious rail agenda to build an even better, world-class, rail network for the North in the future.”
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About RIA North: RIA North is the voice of the rail supply community in the North of England, representing RIA members across the region. Rail in the North supports £7.7bn in economic growth (GVA), 154,000 jobs and £2.5bn in tax revenue and is an essential industry in delivering the Government's build back better, decarbonisation and levelling-up agendas. www.riagb.org.uk/north
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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. 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