Railway industry responds to the Prime Minister's commitment to new northern rail infrastructure investment

Today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make a speech setting out plans for a new rail link between Leeds and Manchester.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “The Railway Industry Association, the national trade body for rail suppliers, welcomes Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s commitment today to new rail infrastructure investment in the north, but this shouldn’t be at the expense of other planned rail schemes such as HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail. 

“With national rail passenger numbers doubling over the past 20 years, and freight growing significantly too, it is vital the Government delivers major rail schemes across the country to ensure we have the capacity we need in the future. Schemes such as that announced today, and also HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, Crossrail, East West Rail, Crossrail 2, Transpennine Route Upgrade, and the Midlands Rail Hub, all help improve connectivity and spur significant economic growth, jobs and investment.

 “So we hope PM Johnson will accelerate the delivery of these major schemes, benefiting not only the north – important thought that is – but also the entire country, as it seeks to build the rail infrastructure it needs in the uncertain months and years ahead.”

Notes to Editors

1. News about Boris Johnson’s pledge to fund a new Leeds to Manchester rail project can be found 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 280+ 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