RIA Response to Government Climate Change announcement

12 June 2019

David Clarke, Technical Director at the Railway Industry Association, responded to the Climate Change announcement made today by the Government: “The rail industry is working hard to achieve the Government’s aim to decarbonise the UK railway by 2040.

“Over the coming years, we will need a mix of train traction to decarbonise the network – whether that’s hydrogen, battery or electrification technology. For intensively used routes, electrification is the optimal solution, so we call on Government to work with us to establish a rolling programme of electrification, which – as shown by RIA’s Electrification Cost Challenge report – can be delivered at up to 50% less than some past projects.

“We look forward to working with Government to decarbonise the rail network.”

1.  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. We promote and represent our members’ interests to policy makers, clients and other stakeholders in the UK and overseas. RIA has 280+ 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 growing industry with the number of rail journeys expected to double over the next 25 years and freight set to grow significantly too. 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