About RIA Devolution Week
In 2021, devolved nations and regions across the UK will go to polls to elect new Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in Scotland, Assembly Members (AMs) in London, Members of the Senedd (MS) in Wales, and Mayors in London, the Midlands and the North.
What are they key issues facing the rail supply community across these regions and nations? What are the priorities for rail investment? And how can the rail industry support these plans, ensuring rail plays a key role as these areas look to develop an economic bounceback post-Coronavirus?
Over a week, from 8 to 12 March 2021, the Railway Industry Association (RIA), with partners Northern Rail Industry Leaders, will be delivering a Devolution Week to explore these very issues.
The week will involve a virtual event each day of the week, covering each of the areas listed above respectively. Each session will include a panel discussion with leading industry speakers and decision makers from that nation and region, followed by a workshop for the industry to feed into the devolved manifestos RIA will be drafting in the run up to the elections.
The panel discussions are open to all, but the workshop sessions will be open only to RIA members for the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday events, and for NRIL members for the Thursday event.
RIA's Devolution Week Agenda
Rail in Scotland, Monday 8 March 2021, 2 - 4pm
The Rail in Scotland event will begin at 2pm on Monday 8 March with a panel discussion with representatives from Transport Scotland, the Scottish Rail Engineering Cluster, the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. The workshop to develop RIA's Scotland Manifesto will take place from 3 to 4pm.
Rail in London, Tuesday 9 March 2021, 10am - 12pm
The London event will start at 10am, with the first panel session involving representatives from Transport for London, London First, Transport for the South East and ICE London. The workshop to develop RIA's London Manifesto will begin at 11am.
Rail in the Midlands, Wednesday 10 March, 2021, 10am - 12pm
Rail in the Midlands will see representatives from Midlands Connect, HS2 and Network Rail speaking for the first session at 10am, followed by the Manifesto Workshop at 11am.
Rail in the North, with Northern Rail Industry Leaders (NRIL), Thursday 11 March 2021,10am - 12pm
The Rail in the North event will be held in partnership with Northern Rail Industry Leaders (NRIL). The panel session will see experts from Transport for the North, Network Rail, Northern Powerhouse Partnership and NRIL, followed by a workshop session open to all RIA and NRIL members at 11am.
Rail in Wales, Friday 12 March 2021, 10am - 12pm
The Rail in Wales event will see speakers from the Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and industry experts. The workshop will begin at 11am.