Get on Board! New Programme reveals how innovation in rail is delivering for the UK
23 October 2018
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has partnered with ITN Productions to launch ‘UK Rail, World Class,’ a news style programme reporting on the opportunities and challenges faced by the rail industry and the ground-breaking innovations that are reshaping the future of travel. The programme can be found here
With passenger journeys having doubled over the past 20 years on an ageing network, national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky takes us in to the engine room of the rail industry and hears directly from those at the forefront of change. Signalling the future of the railways, ‘UK Rail, World Class’ showcases how immersive technologies, digital transformation, electrification, decarbonisation, hybrid trains and world-class engineering are just a few of the key components at the heart of improving the UK rail network.
Exploring the dynamic people, processes and products that power the railways and the broad spectrum of career and development opportunities available within the industry, the news style programme also reveals the crucial role the RIA plays in supporting the success of the industry in the UK. In an interview with Darren Caplan, Chief Executive, RIA, he illustrates the value of the industry to the UK PLC and champions the critical work being done to engage both the government and the next generation of engineers to keep our railways on track throughout Brexit and beyond.
Drawing upon ITN’s 60-year heritage and expertise in storytelling, ‘UK Rail, World Class,’ combines a series of authoritative interviews, reports, case studies and sponsored profiles from leading organisations who are driving change, improving standards and innovating within the industry including Aecom, Furrer & Frey GB Ltd, Keltbray Group Holdings Ltd, National College for High Speed Rail, Rail Products UK Ltd, SNC Lavalin Atkins, Telent Technology Services Ltd and Thales UK.
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive, RIA, said: “UK Rail, World Class shows a rail industry at the top of its game with organisations from across the sector showing what they do every day to keep the country moving. New technologies, innovation and skills development are all transforming the rail network and communities around the UK, and it is vital that we celebrate this fact. UK Rail, World Class encapsulates just a snapshot of the fantastic work done by the often unseen rail supply industry. Congratulations to all who took part!”
Elizabeth Fisher-Robins, Head of Industry News, ITN Productions said: “We are delighted to partner with The Railway Industry Association to create ‘UK Rail, World Class.’ In celebrating the ground-breaking achievements of those at the forefront of change and highlighting the exciting products, people and processes behind the rail sector, we hope to provide a platform on which to engage members with the opportunities and challenges the industry face throughout Brexit and beyond."
Notes to editors
- About ITN Productions: ITN Productions is ITN’s bespoke production hub producing creative and commercially valuable content for the business, commercial, broadcast and digital sectors. Industry News forms part of this offering and is a communications tool for leading industry bodies and national associations produced in a broadcast news programme format, including interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles. For more information visit: http://www.itnproductions.co.uk
- About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the representative body for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. It has more than 230 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. www.riagb.org.uk