The Rail Industry Association has released a statement after Labour’s win in the General Election overnight.
Sir Keir Starmer was successful in his general election, winning over the outgoing Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the RIA has congratulated Sir Keir Starmer, and wsaid the RIA looks forward to working with the new government to achieve its goals for rail.
“On behalf of the Railway Industry Association I would like to congratulate new Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party on the General Election result.
“Labour’s Plan for Rail, published earlier in the year, is clear that the railways are crucial for delivering UK economic growth. Labour has pledged to bring forward a strong pipeline of work for the rail supply sector and to develop a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock.
“RIA and our members now look forward to working with the new Government to achieve its goals for rail. With passenger growth returning strongly, and as we seek a fresh start for the UK railway industry, we urge the new Government to deliver on our and our members’ five main RIA Manifesto asks: to publish a long-term rail strategy; bring about railway industry reform; accelerate new train orders and low carbon network upgrades; support a sustainable supply chain; and leverage private investment.
“We wish the new Government well on its ambitious transport agenda, and specifically its plans for rail, in the coming months and years.”
Rail Industry Association Chief Executive, Darren Caplan
Responses
Some interesting thoughts from fellow readers. I’d merely point out that in the time since this single track reinstatement – consisting of approx 8km of retained freight only track to be upgraded and resignalled, plus a little over 4,5km of fully rehabilitated existing disused formation – passed GRIP1 (feasibility) in 2013, China has opened 32,000km of brand new High Speed railway line …. and the Portishead scheme has been notable for the (comparative) lack of NIMBY opposition, with the most contentious issue concerning the precise siting of the terminus in Portishead itself.
The foregoing of course assumes the report is in fact correct and the scheme makes it across the final hurdles.
Well, promises are one thing in order to get elected. Delivering them – and paying for them – is something else. I will watch with interest but well done the Rail Industry for applying immediate pressure!
To paraphrase “Modern Railway” magazine’s correspondent , Roger Ford,….” opposition policies can change , when a election is won , and manifesto writers become responsible for the mess it was so convenient to criticise”.
Hopefully the start of the end of Privatisation that has taken so much money out of the industry to be passed into shareholder value ..
And an acceleration of Electrification
And GBR bringing any end to the over priced, management top-heavy Network Rail