Commenting on the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) Infrastructure Progress Review 2023, Railway Industry Association (RIA) Chief Executive Darren Caplan said:

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has submitted a series of recommendations to the International Trade Select Committee Inquiry, setting out how the UK Government can grow rail exports and boost UK trade.

Responding to today’s Spring Budget, RIA Chief Executive, Darren Caplan, said:

The DfT has today published figures showing that national rail passenger numbers have reached over 100% of pre-Covid levels for the first time since March 2020. From Friday 10 February, passenger numbers on the national network hit or exceeded 100% five days in a row, and on Wednesday 22 February 103% was recorded. This means that passenger numbers have doubled in just over a year, with the DfT data showing that since the start of 2023 rail customers have been returning not just on weekends and the middle days of the working week, but also on Mondays and Fridays.

Britain will pay France £480m across three years as part of an agreement to stop migrants crossing the Channel.

With rail passenger numbers approaching pre-Covid levels, the Railway Industry Association sets out six ‘asks’ of the UK
Government, ahead of the Spring Budget on 15 March.

SYSTRA Regional Programme Director, Sekoura Benissad, has today been announced as the first Chair of RIA Midlands & Eastern.

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) Consultants Group, representing the rail consultancy and design community, has announced the election of a new Chair, Jessica Ellery of Jacobs, and Vice Chair, Chris Pike of Arcadis, to help set the strategic direction of the Group. This follows a competitive process with several strong applications.

On the first day of The National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2023, the Railway Industry Association (RIA) is celebrating the contribution of apprentices to the rail industry.

RIA Scotland has today welcomed the publication of the the High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) and Statement of Funds Available (SoFA) for Scotland's Railway infrastructure for Control Period 7 (CP7, April 2024 to March 2029). This comes after RIA Scotland last week expressed disappointment in the delay to publication.

The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the voice of the rail industry, has today submitted a number of recommendations on behalf of the rail supply industry to HM Treasury, on the day its consultation on the Spring Budget closes. The Spring Budget is due to be announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday 15 March.

Today, former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore has published his Net Zero Review, outlining the opportunities offered by Net Zero.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has today published the High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) and Statement of Funds Available (SoFA) for the railway in England and Wales for April 2024 to March 2029, Control Period 7 (CP7).

Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh told the RIA North Conference in Manchester today that rail can drive the green industrial revolution and boost decarbonised economic growth. Setting out Labour’s vision in remarks targeting political influencers, rail suppliers, clients and key stakeholders, she said:

Today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his Autumn Statement, which included a number of measures related to transport infrastructure, the railway industry and rail supply businesses.

Today, the Rail Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Charter, led jointly by the Railway Industry Association (RIA) and Women in Rail, celebrated its 200th signatory, with the Great British Railways Transition Team signing up to the Charter.

On the eve of the Railway Industry Association’s Annual Conference, a survey of RIA members found that three quarters of businesses think a hiatus in rail work over the next year is likely, and that as a result, 57 percent could either prioritise work outside the UK and/or slow plans to expand in the UK.

Following the appointment of Huw Merriman MP as the new Minister for Rail & HS2 at the Department for Transport, the Railway Industry Association can announce that the Minister will open the RIA Annual Conference on Thursday 10 November.

A new railway industry report looking at the economic, environmental and social benefits of UK rail has revealed how reducing travel times by train would boost job creation across the country.

The Railway Industry Association can today announce that both Rail Minister Kevin Foster MP and Shadow Rail Minister Tan Dhesi MP will speak at the RIA Annual Conference on 10 November. They will both take part in the opening session, as the railway supply sector comes together to debate the issues of the day.

The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the national voice of the UK rail supply community, has written an Open Letter to the Chancellor, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP. The letter asks him and Treasury officials not to reduce investment in rail, at a time when there is immense pressure to make cuts in public spending.