news

RIA’s Darren Caplan responds to the Chancellor’s spending review

0
SHARES

Today’s UK Spending Review has allocated significant investment to transport infrastructure outside London, including £15 billion for local transport projects in city regions and plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

RIA

While this brings opportunities for network upgrades and new stations, some rail industry bodies may still push for a more consistent and predictable long-term funding framework to support ambitious decarbonisation and growth targets.

Commenting on the Spending Review announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Railway Industry Association (RIA) Chief Executive Darren Caplan said:

“The Railway Industry Association welcomes the support Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced for UK rail in the Spending Review, and the recognition that the railways are key to delivering economic growth.

“This support includes the next phases of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, East West Rail, and Northern Powerhouse Rail, as well as new funding for the Midlands Rail Hub and for Welsh rail infrastructure.

“The Treasury’s plans to reassess the Treasury’s Green Book investment framework should also be applauded, as social, environmental and regional value are all central to what rail delivers.

“This Spending Review follows the announcement last week of £15 billion of funding for local transport in city regions, including metro and tram networks, whether the Midlands, Sheffield, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, Tees Valley, Newcastle, or West of England. Rail businesses from every part of the UK will want to be involved with delivering those schemes, as the Government and devolved bodies take them forward.

“Finally, we also welcome the Chancellor’s focus on skills and training as well as her ambition to leverage private investment into transport to help alleviate capacity and connectivity constraints. We look forward to more details on how this will be delivered, when the Government’s Infrastructure and Industrial strategies are published later in June.”

read now

NEW REPORT FROM GLOBAL RAILWAY REVIEW: Track Insight – Track Maintenance | Transforming Track Maintenance Through Technology

Our latest expert-led Track Insight explores how industry leaders are revolutionising the future of track maintenance through cutting-edge innovation and real-world strategies.

From automation and robotics now streamlining inspections and repairs, to predictive maintenance powered by IoT sensors and advanced analytics, the rail sector is entering a new era of precision and efficiency. Companies like Goldschmidt, Bentley Systems, and MxV Rail are leading the charge, redefining how infrastructure is managed with AI, machine learning, and digital twins to reduce downtime and extend asset life.

In this new data-rich landscape, organisations such as Amtrak and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch are demonstrating how to turn vast streams of information—from track geometry to environmental monitoring into actionable intelligence for safer, smarter networks.

Download this insightful, practical guide for FREE and see how your operations can evolve – READ FOR FREE NOW!

 

Related organisations

Related regions

Related people

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share via
Share via