Rail industry welcomes new Acceleration Unit for transport projects

 

21 August 2020

The Transport Secretary has launched a new Acceleration Unit to speed up the delivery of transport projects and has announced £340 million for rail schemes in Wales.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), responded: “It is positive news that the Government has set up a new unit to accelerate transport projects, as well as providing £340 million for rail schemes in Wales. Speeding up rail projects is a clear way in which the Government can spur green economic growth, jobs and investment around the UK following the economic slowdown caused by the Coronavirus outbreak.

“The Railway Industry Association and our members look forward to working with this new Unit, particularly to speed up the 58 rail enhancement projects the Government has direct control of, as our ‘Speed Up Rail Enhancements’ campaign has been calling for. Through Government and industry working together, we can support the UK’s economic recovery, whilst delivering a decarbonised, more efficient transport network for the whole of the UK.”

Notes to Editors

 

  1. The Department for Transport announcements can be found here and here.
  2. 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 300+ companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. 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). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry. www.riagb.org.uk