2 June 2026
We have published a report setting out how rail electrification can support economic growth by delivering a more affordable, higher performing and greener railway. The Electrification Cost Challenge 2.0 finds that a programme-based approach to electrification could reduce infrastructure delivery costs by around a third compared to a well-delivered project today.
Key findings from the report include:
- Electrification lowers the whole-life cost of the railway, improves performance and increases capacity.
- The current issues regarding the affordability of electrification are largely structural – by reducing the stop-start and project-by-project approach, avoidable overhead, risks and loss of experienced individuals are avoided.
- In the short term, Great British Railways (GBR) should focus on protecting capability and realise early benefits by procuring a tranche of Battery EMUs and reverse the pause in the Midland Main Line Electrification Programme.
- In the medium term, the advent of Great British Railways, the upcoming rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, and the development of CP8/FP1 create the opportunity to start a programme-based approach to electrification, which a cross-industry team found would reduce costs by a further third compared to a well-delivered project today.
- To facilitate this new model, RIA is proposing a flexible decade-by-decade delivery programme supported by a maximum funding envelope and a commercial model that supports investment and capability growth whilst maintaining competitive pressure.