Rail industry responds to Institute for Government report on transforming infrastructure
decision making
Responding to the Institute for Government’s new report on infrastructure decision making, Darren
Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association said:
“The Railway Industry Association (RIA) welcomes this report, setting out how infrastructure decisionmaking
can be improved in the UK. It makes it clear the UK needs to continue to invest in new
infrastructure to ensure capacity grows, journey times reduce, and passengers and freight services are
enhanced.
“In particular, the report by the Institute for Government (IfG) highlights the importance of attracting
private finance, which is vital for the future of the UK railway network. Last year, RIA welcomed the
Hansford Review report into contestability in the rail network, and the IfG’s paper will further promote
the value of third party funding to help reduce passenger and the taxpayers’ contribution to
infrastructure improvements, as well as developing even more innovation in the rail sector.”
Notes to Editors
- The Institute for Government Report can be found here.
- About the Railway Industry Association: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the
representative body for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. It has more than
200 companies in membership and the sector employs 240,000 people and contributes annually
£11 billion Gross Value Added (GVA). 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.