One of RIA's main objectives is to promote and defend the interests of the UK railway supply industry.

We have extensive contact with Network Rail and the Rail Safety & Standards Board. We are in frequent touch with Government departments, especially the Department for Transport, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Health & Safety Executive and the Office of Rail Regulation. We are consulted frequently by all thesse organisations, produce extensive written and verbal representations, and nominate members to various key committees.

The Director General represents the supply industry's interests on a number of senior groups. Other RIA representatives are members of the Boards of a series of cross-industry organisations such as RSSB, the VT-SIC Suppliers' Group and the Network Rail-led National ERTMS Programme. Each of these representatives provides feedback to, and receives feedback from, regular meetings of members called for the purpose.

RIA has a key role in representing the UK in the European arena, including organising supply industry participation on various CEN and CENELEC committees.

We work closely with the Association of Train Operating Companies with joint initiatives including ARTTT - ATOC and RIA Transforming Trains Together.

We are founder members of the Railway Forum and play a major part in its activities.