Rail industry welcomes Jim McMahon as new Shadow Transport Secretary

The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the voice of the UK rail supply community, has welcomed Jim McMahon MP as the new Shadow Transport Secretary today.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “On behalf of the Railway Industry Association and our members I would like to welcome Jim McMahon to his position as the new Shadow Transport Secretary. 

“The Coronavirus outbreak provides a real challenge to the railways, and the UK rail industry is working hard to overcome these challenges. Whether maintaining the existing network or building, safely, the world-class railway we all want to see for the future, rail suppliers really are working flat-out to ensure key workers and resources can move across the country, and to support the economy. They have all of our gratitude at this most difficult of times.

 “Both through the Coronavirus outbreak and afterwards, we look forward to working closely with the new Shadow Transport Secretary, to ensure there is a strong rail supply sector that supports passengers, freight services and the UK plc, its economy and connectivity more widely, in the months and years ahead.

“I would also, on behalf of RIA and our members, like to offer sincere thanks to outgoing Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald, who was very supportive of, and accessible to, the rail supply sector and a strong advocate of providing a consistent, visible pipeline of work for the railway industry. We congratulate him on his new role as Shadow Employment Rights Secretary and look forward to continuing to work with him in Parliament.”

1. The Labour Shadow Cabinet 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. We promote and represent our members’ interests to policy makers, clients and other stakeholders in the UK and overseas. 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 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