In an open letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Railway Industry Association (RIA) has reflected on the first six months of rail policy under the current government and outlined its proposals for 2025.
The RIA commended the government's commitment to key rail projects, including HS2 Phase 1, the Transpennine Route Upgrade, and East West Rail. They also welcomed the long-term rolling stock pipeline and new train orders.
However, the RIA highlighted ongoing challenges, such as low business confidence due to political uncertainty, redundancies in skilled roles, and skills shortages. They emphasized the need for a strategic reset in the 2025 Spending Review to ensure steady work for rail projects and support local job creation.
The RIA urged the government to expedite key decisions and set out detailed plans for major rail projects, including the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill. They also called for clarity on opportunities for private investment in the rail network.
Finally, the RIA stressed the importance of involving the rail supply sector in developing rail reform plans and ensuring a collaborative, integrated railway system under Great British Railways (GBR).
As the UK rail industry approaches its 200th anniversary, the RIA looks forward to working closely with the Secretary of State for Transport to address these challenges and leverage opportunities for growth and innovation.
Commenting on the letter, Railway Industry Association (RIA) Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “Six months into the new Government and as we start a New Year, RIA is today acknowledging some progress on support for major rail projects and its call last autumn for a long-term rolling stock pipeline, whilst also setting out some ‘offers’ and ‘asks’ to boost the confidence of the railway industry on what has been a difficult time for rail suppliers. Recent confidence has been low and 2024 saw job losses among some suppliers, which is not only worrying for those involved but which also threatens to then increase the cost of work in the future. So it is vital the Government sets out a positive stall for the next 12 months.
Caplan added:
“We urge the Treasury Spending Review planned later this year in the summer, to provide clarity on long-term rates of work, whether new railway lines, rolling stock or electrification.”
“And that, given many key rail improvements cannot wait until the establishment of Great British Railways towards the end of 2026 at the earliest, decisions on major projects, enhancements and train building and refurbishments, are brought forward to help to attract business investment.
“Despite recent mixed reports on north-south rail infrastructure, we are asking Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to look at the need to develop future north-south capacity, given well-evidenced forecasts show passenger numbers will grow significantly in the coming years. Further, we ask the Government to push on speedily this year with its agenda to deliver rail reform and bring ‘track and train’ together. Given over half of rail expenditure goes through the supply chain, the supply sector should be accorded an appropriately impactful role on informing rail restructure too.
“Finally, RIA and our members look forward to working positively with the new Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, on this agenda and other salient railway industry issues throughout 2025, a landmark year for rail as it celebrates its 200th Anniversary and as RIA celebrates our own 150th Year milestone”.
You can read the letter in full here
Image credit: HM Government
