RIA welcomes Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s positive remarks on Midland Mainline Electrification

26 April 2021

The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the voice of the UK rail supply community, has welcomed comments given by Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP to BBC Radio Derby, confirming the Government is looking at continuing the electrification of the Midland Mainline. The statement can be found here at around 03:08:00.

Darren Caplan at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “It is good to hear the Prime Minister confirm that the continuation of Midland Mainline electrification is on the agenda. 

“As RIA’s recent ‘Why Rail Electrification?’ report shows, we need to begin a rolling programme of electrification as soon as possible if we are to meet the UK’s target of reaching Net Zero by 2050. The Midland Mainline could be the start of such a programme, as a welcome post pandemic scheme that would support jobs, investment and economic growth, whilst cementing the UK’s environmental leadership in the run up to COP26.”

Notes to Editors

 

  1. The statement can be found here at around 03:08:00
  2. The ‘Why Rail Electrification?’ Report can be found here
  3. 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 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. www.riagb.org.uk