Inbox

05.10.15

HS2 board member Lord Adonis to spearhead independent rail infrastructure commission

Non-executive HS2 Ltd board member, Lord Adonis, will spearhead a new government commission to decide on future rail infrastructure investments – including the proposed HS3 scheme.

The National Infrastructure Commission will be tasked with identifying ways to speed up British infrastructure spanning road, rail, housing and energy projects – but HS3 is set to top its priority list, forming part of future large-scale investment in rail connections between northern cities.

Lord Adonis, former Labour transport secretary and credited by many with being the original driving force behind HS2, will lead the commission in drawing up a blueprint for British projects. He will also look into how London’s rail capacity can be boosted to cope with its growing population through a Crossrail 2 north-south link.

Commenting on his appointment, Lord Adonis said: “Without big improvements to its transport and energy systems, Britain will grind to a half. I am pleased to accept the chancellor’s invitation to establish the National Infrastructure Commission as an independent body able to advise government and parliament on priorities.

“Major infrastructure projects like Crossrail and building major new power stations span governments and parliaments. I hope it will be possible to forge a wide measure of agreement, across society and politics, on key infrastructure requirements for the next 20 to 30 years, and the assessment which have underpinned them.”

Chancellor George Osborne is expected to announce the new body today (5 October) during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, where he will clarify that the body will “calmly and dispassionately decide what the country needs to build for its future and hold any government’s feet to the fire if it fails to deliver”.

The government will pay Lord Adonis to advise ministers and report back to Whitehall “regularly” on gaps in the UK’s infrastructure.

The commission’s responsibility of drafting a plan to “transform the connectivity of the northern cities and advise on the next large-scale investment in London’s transport” will also be met with a fresh £5bn increase in infrastructure spending until 2020.

Comments

John   06/10/2015 at 12:19

Wait a minute; is this yet another quango job for one of the "chosen few"?? No wonder we never get any straight answers as to where the budget is going!!

Add your comment

related

rail technology magazine tv

more videos >

latest rail news

HS2 Ltd: Five tech firms join Innovation Accelerator initiative

11/09/2020HS2 Ltd: Five tech firms join Innovation Accelerator initiative

HS2 Ltd have announced today (11 Sept) the first five revolutionary tech firms that will join HS2 Ltd’s Innovation Accelerator programme. ... more >
Network Rail publish Decarbonisation Plan

11/09/2020Network Rail publish Decarbonisation Plan

Network Rail have released their interim Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy, illustrating its preliminary recommendations for decarbonisin... more >
Trains kept moving by AWC despite damaged overhead wires

11/09/2020Trains kept moving by AWC despite damaged overhead wires

Avanti West Coast have taken an unlikely option to allow their timetable to run, without delays, despite damaged overhead wires. The operato... more >
GTR spreads messages of support on Suicide Prevention Day

10/09/2020GTR spreads messages of support on Suicide Prevention Day

As today (10 Sept) mark the annual World Suicide Prevention Day, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), have revealed ‘Affirmation Art’ clus... more >

last word

Encouraging youngsters to be safe on the railway

Encouraging youngsters to be safe on the railway

This summer, Arriva Group's CrossCountry and the Scout Association joined to launch a new partnership to promote rail safety among young people. Chris Leech MBE, business community manager at the TOC, gives RTM an update on the innovative scheme... more > more last word articles >

interviews

Andrew Haines, CE of Network Rail, tells BBC News his organisation could issue future rail franchises

24/06/2019Andrew Haines, CE of Network Rail, tells BBC News his organisation could issue future rail franchises

Andrew Haines, the Chief Executive of Network Rail, has told the Today programme on Radio 4's BBC’s flagship news programme that he wo... more >

the sleeper's daily blog

On the right track, Sulzer is awarded RISAS accreditation for Nottingham Service Centre

29/06/2020On the right track, Sulzer is awarded RISAS accreditation for Nottingham Service Centre

Following an independent audit, Sulzer’s Nottingham Service Centre has been accepted as part of the rail industry supplier approval scheme (RISAS). The accreditation reinforces the high-quality standards that are maintained by Sulzer’s network of independent repair facilities across the UK and further afield in its global network. ... more >
read more blog posts from 'the sleeper' >

comment

The challenge of completing Crossrail

05/07/2019The challenge of completing Crossrail

With a new plan now in place to deliver Crossrail, Hedley Ayres, National Audit Office manager, major projects and programmes, takes a look at ho... more >
Preparing the industry to deliver trains for the future

04/07/2019Preparing the industry to deliver trains for the future

The move to decarbonise the rail network involves shifting to cleaner modes of traction by 2050. David Clarke, technical director at the Railway ... more >
Sunshine future beckons for South Wales Railways, says 10:10 Climate Action’s Leo Murray

02/07/2019Sunshine future beckons for South Wales Railways, says 10:10 Climate Action’s Leo Murray

Smart electrification is the way to boost clean energy resources, argues Leo Murray, director at 10:10 Climate Action. Contractors are clear... more >
Ambition doesn’t have to be expensive, says Midland Connect's Maria Machancoses

02/07/2019Ambition doesn’t have to be expensive, says Midland Connect's Maria Machancoses

The TCR Midlands conference is only days away and tickets are going fast for the sector event of the year at the Vox Conference Centre in Birming... more >

rail industry focus

View all News