Rail industry comments on HS2 reset

19 May 2026

Commenting on the HS2 reset Railway Industry Association (RIA) Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “The Railway Industry Association welcomes the clarity on the budget and schedule for the construction of HS2 announced today by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. It is hugely important that decisions on line speed and cost have now been agreed, and of course lessons need to be learned as the scheme moves forward to delivery in the months and years ahead.

“This new line is one of the most important infrastructure projects in the UK, in terms of delivering economic growth, jobs and housing, as well as ensuring there is crucial new rail capacity on the currently congested West Coast Main Line. Completion of the route must now be the priority, as well as confirmation on how HS2 will integrate into the existing network, as the railway industry moves towards the establishment of Great British Railways next year.”

Notes to Editors

Read the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander's speech here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/hs2-6-monthly-report-to-parliament-may-2026?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=31f2955b-9c20-4446-9f1e-b31ccc80ac79&utm_content=immediately
Image: Parliament TV
About the Railway Industry Association: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) champions a dynamic UK rail supply sector. We help to grow a sustainable, and high-performing railway as well as promoting UK rail expertise and products to international markets. Rail is a foundation sector for the UK’s economy which supports sustainable investment and jobs in communities across the UK. For every £1 in the rail transport system, over £2.50 of value is generated in the wider economy. The whole rail industry contributes £41 billion in economic value and £14 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as supporting over 640,000 jobs throughout the UK. For every job in rail transport sector, a further four jobs elsewhere in the UK economy are supported. And every job in the rail supply chain is 29% more productive than the UK average, reflecting many highly-skilled jobs in the sector. RIA has over 450 members and 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