Transport Secretary joins rail industry in Berlin to promote the UK’s global rail offer 

The UK Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, joined UK rail companies to promote global trade and exports in Berlin at the world’s largest rail trade fair, InnoTrans.

From left to right: Sir Sebastian Wood, British Ambassador to Germany, Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling MP, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association

On Wednesday 19 September, the Transport Secretary met with a number of rail companies, including those exhibiting on RIA’s three GREAT Pavilions, to discuss future trade in the rail industry.
 
In the evening, he spoke alongside Sir Sebastian Wood, British Ambassador to Germany, at the Department for International Trade (DIT) and Railway Industry Association (RIA) Reception sponsored by the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN), Furrer + Frey, Ramboll and SNC Lavalin’s Atkins business.

Speaking at InnoTrans, the Secretary of State said: “This show has businesses from all over the globe, working with each other, selling to each other, and forging partnerships with each other, and that I think is our vision for British companies post Brexit. We’ll be back here in two years time as the UK team, supporting UK companies, and you’ll carry on going on from strength to strength around the world.”
 
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA) said: “It is great to have the Secretary of State join us to promote global Britain and the role rail can play in boosting exports and increasing investment in the UK transport system. At this crucial time for the UK, as we prepare to leave the European Union, it is vital that the rail industry continues to build links across the world and highlights the fantastic innovations, products and services that UK rail has to offer. I would like to thank the Secretary of State for giving his time in helping to promote UK rail companies abroad.”
 

1. About RIA: The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the trade association for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. It has some 200 companies in membership, in 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.