26 May 2023
RIA Midlands & Eastern, a regional arm of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), has today welcomed the publication of East West Rail (EWR) route update announcement, marking the next stage in the EWR project.
This announcement recognises that EWR is critical to improving connections between UK science powerhouses Oxford and Cambridge and will bring more investment to the region.
The announcement comes with a Route Update Report, highlighting the key details of the route, including considerations on traction power, environmental impact and civil engineering.
RIA Midlands & Eastern Chair, Sekoura Benissad, said: “We welcome the announcement which gives the UK railway suppliers greater clarity and certainty over the work pipeline, which is something RIA consistently advocates for.
“This is a key transformational project for the region, supporting jobs and better connectivity. It is now important to make sure this project continues to progress and we look forward to engaging with EWR to bring supply chain expertise across all the different areas needed for success.
Notes to editors
RIA Midlands & Eastern includes and represents members across the West and East Midlands, and East Anglia. Rail in the Midlands & Eastern region supports some 160,000 jobs and generates £8.3bn in economic growth and £2.6bn in tax revenue. RIA Midlands & Eastern works to make the case for rail investment across the region, including calling for projects like HS2, Midlands Rail Hub, East West Rail and others to be delivered in full.
Reach the Oxford Economics report, The Economic Contribution of UK Rail, here.
The EWR Route Update can be found here.
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 350 companies in membership in a sector that contributes £43 billion in economic growth and £14 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 710,000 people. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK; for every £1 spent in rail, £2.50 is generated in the wider economy. 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). www.riagb.org.uk