Railway industry sets out key Coronavirus-related issues and concerns to Parliament’s Transport Committee

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has published its submission to the Transport Select Committee on the impact of Coronavirus to rail businesses.
 
The submission sets out that:

• Whilst there has been positive engagement between rail suppliers and Government, Network Rail and HS2 Ltd, rail suppliers would like to see stronger engagement with clients like Transport for London and also the Train Operating Companies;
• Suppliers have welcomed the assurance that rail work should go ahead, where it is safe to do so;
• The industry’s main concern is a hiatus or drying up of work; and
• Continued effective communication and engagement throughout the railway industry will be essential as the UK moves to the next stage of tackling the virus.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “The past few months have been incredibly challenging for many in rail, and it is noticeable and welcome that the railway industry has received such strong support from the Government and clients like Network Rail and HS2 Ltd.
 
“As our submission to the Transport Committee’s consultation shows, the twin priorities of the Railway Industry Association and our members has been to ensure the railway network can enable key workers and resources to be able to move around the country, whilst also ensuring the work suppliers do – working of course within the safety guidelines – helps rail play its part in spearheading economic recovery.
 
“We now welcome the opportunity to work with the Transport Select Committee, the Government, client bodies and other rail stakeholders, to accelerate work and ensure the railway industry can build even better world-class rail at home and abroad – with rail supply being a leading sector in helping the UK bounce back from the Coronavirus lockdown – in the months ahead.”
 
Read the submission

Notes to Editors

1. The submission can be found attached and 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. www.riagb.org.uk