Rail industry welcomes formal start of HS2 construction

4 September 2020

The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the trade body for rail suppliers, has responded to the announcement of the formal start of construction for HS2.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “It is great news that HS2 has announced it is moving into its main construction phase today.

“HS2 is a fantastic long-term opportunity for the UK, delivering jobs and investment for towns and communities across the country, connecting up eight out of the UK’s ten major cities, serving over 25 stations and connecting around 30 million people. It will also spur much needed economic growth at an essential time for the economy. The rail industry stands ready to deliver HS2 and support the national effort to ‘build back better’.”

Notes to Editors

 

  1. The announcement can be found 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 some 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.