According to the RIA, taken together, these six priorities would boost economic growth and levelling up, create jobs and facilitate the UK’s journey towards net zero.
RIA’s call comes after two challenging years for the industry, with the Coronavirus pandemic impacting both passenger and freight levels on the national network. However, with demand for both passenger and freight journeys returning quickly and passenger numbers now regularly hitting over 90% of pre-pandemic levels, continued government support and investment is essential to ensuring the necessary increase in rail capacity – both infrastructure and rolling stock – in the years ahead.
One of RIA’s six key priorities for the incoming Prime Minister is to decarbonize rail by accelerating electrification, hydrogen, and battery trains. For the industry to phase out diesel-only trains by 2040 and decarbonize the railway network by 2050, it needs a commitment from the government to accelerate plans on rail electrification, as well as support for hydrogen and battery trains on less intensively used parts of the network.
RIA’s other five priorities are ensuring certainty of the work pipeline; committing to delivery major rail projects, including HS2; ensuring the transition to Great British Railways; supporting digitalization; and investing in R&D and innovation to aid the development of cleaner and more efficient ways of operating the railway.
Darren Caplan, chief executive of RIA, said, “The railway industry is ready and willing to play its part in delivering her [Liz Truss] plans to generate economic growth, to level up and to help the government deliver its net zero targets.
“With passenger numbers now regularly hitting well over 90% of pre-pandemic levels, and freight back to high volumes too, it is clear that rail not only has a bright and prosperous future but can play a key role in helping the wider national economic recovery, in what we know are uncertain times.”