Over 60 business leaders from the rail industry have written to Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, urging him to ensure there is no delay in bringing forward legislation to enact the Government’s rail reform plans during the coming Parliamentary year.

The legislation is required so that Great British Railways (GBR), which will bring track and train operations together within one body, can be created.

Since the Government published its reform proposals in 2021 the necessary legislation has been delayed. However, failure to legislate within the next Parliamentary session concerns the rail business leaders as it means the railway will have no clear direction.

Any uncertainty about the future structure of the industry could cause problems in making key decisions, putting progress with essential rail works at risk, and jeopardising jobs, investment, and business growth, and ultimately undermining services for passengers and freight customers.

RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “The Railway Industry Association and its rail supply members are simply asking Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to ensure the Government gets on with the process of expediting its own legislation.

“Getting on with rail reform will help provide the certainty rail businesses need to invest, take on staff and develop their business plans, ultimately benefiting passenger and freight customers, and resulting in better value-for-money for taxpayers.

“However, failure to enact the GBR legislation means a delay to reform of at least 18 months, and possibly longer as we await the next General Election and then fresh Bills come forward in its aftermath. There would be a heightened risk of hiatus in rail investment if decisions get delayed as rail reform stalls.

“Some of the biggest names in the rail supply sector have signed this letter to the Prime Minister, to urge him to ensure the required legislation is passed. We ask Rishi Sunak to take note of the letter if he wants to have a world-class rail system in the UK, which connects the country and delivers on his own agendas to level up, decarbonise, and encourage industries which can give a major boost to economic growth.”

Among the leaders in the rail supply industry are:

• Alan Robertson, Chairman, VolkerWessels UK
• Allan Bell, Chief Commercial & Procurement Officer, British Steel
• Andy Bell, Vice President, Thales GTS UK
• Andy Joy, CEO, Story Contracting
• Chris Pike, Partner, Sector Director UK Rail, Arcadis
• Colin Johnson, Managing Director, D/Gauge
• Colin Wood, CEO, AECOM Europe & India
• Daniel Saxton, Head of Rail Western Europe, TÜV Rheinland
• Darren James, CEO, Keltbray
• Darren Reed, Managing Director Rail, WSP
• Gary Elliott, Managing Director, Trough-Tec Systems
• James Bain, COO, Worldline; Chair, Rail Supply Group
• James Holmes, Rail Sector Director, Amey
• Jean-Pierre Bertrand, CEO, Colas Rail UK
• Jonathan Willcock, Managing Director, Skanska Infrastructure
• Julie Owen, Interim CEO & CFO UKI, Siemens Mobility
• Magnus Friberg, CEO, Icomera Group
• Martin Hawley, Managing Director, SPL Powerlines UK
• Mary Kenny, CEO, Eversholt Rail Ltd
• Neil McNicholas, Managing Director, Unipart Rail
• Nick Crossfield, Managing Director, Alstom UK&I
• Nick Salt, CEO, Systra
• Paul Goodhand, Managing Director, Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems (UK)
• Paul Lester CBE, Chairman, Telent
• Tim Bentley, Group Sales & Commercial Director, Wabtec UK
• Will Wilson, CEO, Linbrooke Services