A new report commissioned by the Railway Industry Association (RIA) from Oxford Economics shows that thousands of jobs across the country could be created if commuting times by train were to be reduced.

The economic, environmental, and social benefits of UK rail travel are detailed in the report, which found that if there was a 10 percent reduction in journey times, it would lead to up to 17,600 jobs in London, 9,000 in the West Midlands and 8,200 in Scotland, since people would have easier access to employment.

The report also highlights how:

• In six of the UK’s largest cities, the use of public transport generates around £1.4 billion in time-saving benefits for commuters each year through reduced congestion;
• A reduction of 20 minutes in the journey times between Manchester and Leeds could increase wages by approximately £600 per worker per year;
• By 2050, electric trains are expected to produce 14 times lefewermissions than from trains using conventional fuels;
• If public transport in six of the UK’s largest cities were improved, there would be £115 million per year in healthcare cost savings.

The latest research builds on the report that the Railway Industry Association commissioned in September 2021 Oxford Economics into the economic contribution made by rail. That report showed that rail supports £43 billion GVA in economic growth, 710,000 jobs, and £14 billion in tax revenue, and for every £1 spent on rail £2.50 of income is generated in the wider economy.

The report was released on Wednesday, 2nd November, at the Railway Industry Association offices in Westminster. Speaking at the launch were RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan and Lord Berkeley, whilst Oxford Economics gave an overview of the research and there was a panel discussion on maximising the benefits of rail, with contributions from:

• Champa Magesh, President, Trainline Partner Solutions
• Graham Shaw, Business Development Manager, VolkerRail
• Martin Howell, Transport Markets Director, Worldline
• Peter Strickland, Managing Commercial Director, SCS Railways
• Tom Johnson, Engineering Program Lead, Knorr-Bremse

Commenting, Railway Industry Association Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “This fresh Oxford Economics analysis illustrates the crucial economic, environmental and social contribution that rail makes across the entire UK. From creating jobs to cutting carbon emissions and improving health outcomes, the railway industry is perfectly positioned to support economic growth, help deliver on levelling up and accelerate the drive towards Net Zero.

“Unleashing the potential of the railway industry to deliver these transformational benefits of course requires the right support from Government. With passenger numbers climbing this year towards almost pre-pandemic levels, and more rail capacity clearly required in the years ahead, now is not the time for the Government to take its foot off the pedal when it comes to rail investment. This report shows that the wider environmental and social benefits should not be ignored too.”

Lord Berkeley, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Rail, who attended the report launch, commented: “This report from Oxford Economics provides more evidence of the immense value of UK rail and demonstrates the potential of the industry to create jobs, boost pay, combat climate change and improve health and wellbeing.

“This analysis should be valuable food for thought for the Government, leaving ministers in no doubt of the existing and potential economic, environmental and social benefits of the railways, and the need for ongoing investment in new and current infrastructure”.

Adrian Cooper, CEO of Oxford Economics, said: “Our new report demonstrates the impact of rail in the UK across a range of economic, environmental, and social benefits, building on our 2021 report on the GDP, employment, and tax contributions of UK rail.

“This research shows that the rail network supports the productive potential of the UK economy by connecting people and places. It also reduces congestion for other modes of transport and enables access to employment.

“Moreover, rail has a lower environmental impact than most other modes of transport, and new technology should further reduce its impact. Continued investment in rail will help support the UK Government‘s net zero ambitions. Finally, we find that rail encourages social mobility and inclusion, supporting the government’s levelling up strategy.”