Open letter to the PM: Urging the Government to bring forward the …
Over 60 rail business leaders have written to the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, urging him not to delay in bringing forward legislation to enact the Government’s rail reform plans in the coming Parliamentary year.
Dear Prime Minister,
As private sector railway suppliers and investors in UK rail we welcome the recent announcement of the location for GBR’s new headquarters in Derby. This is a significant milestone on the road to reforming our industry and delivering a simpler, better railway for everyone in the country.
To build on this momentum we – the Railway Industry Association and member companies – ask the Government, as a matter of priority given short timescales, and to gain the benefits as soon as possible for both customers (passengers and freight) and the industry, to bring forward the Bill which will formally establish Great British Railways before the end of this Parliament. This will enable the private sector to work alongside the new “guiding mind” to grow passenger numbers and freight volumes, at a time when we are all seeking to boost the economy and decarbonise, helping the Government achieve Net Zero by 2050. Our businesses are committed to UK rail, but they need certainty to invest and deliver best value and a much better deal for the taxpayer.
There are a significant number of railway industry jobs and millions of pounds of investment in virtually every constituency. Nationally, independent analysis by Oxford Economics shows that UK rail supports £43bn GVA, 710,000 jobs, £14bn Treasury revenues, and for every £1 spent on rail, £2.50 is spent in the wider economy. We believe that Transport Secretary Mark Harper's persuasive vision for greater collaboration between the private and public sectors can stimulate growth, reduce taxpayer support and deliver a railway with a commercial mindset that truly puts customers first. This new partnership will unlock innovation and drive down costs, but time is short, and these benefits should not be delayed.
We appreciate that there are many pressures on the Parliamentary timetable, but we urge you to place rail reform front and centre of your programme. Legislation is needed as soon as possible to bring costs and revenues together in one place, something which is essential to the success of any organisation.
As private sector businesses we need certainty on industry structure and responsibilities – this is essential to our collective ability to invest in R&D, innovation, skills, and to recruit the next generation of apprentices and graduates. The GBR legislation will enable us to deliver this, but for this key piece of legislation to be enacted before the next General Election it needs to be tabled soon – otherwise we face a potential further delay of 18 months or more. As industry leaders from private sector businesses – keen to deliver a modern, efficient, railway focused on the needs of passengers and freight – we ask you to ensure the Government tables the necessary legislation to deliver this certainty today.
Signed by the following rail supply leaders:
Abi Broadley, Director, Abi Broadley Consulting LtdAlan Robertson, Chairman, VolkerWessels UKAllan Bell, Chief Commercial & Procurement Officer, British SteelAmy Jeffs, Managing Director, Hey MeAndy Bell, Vice President, Thales GTS UKAndy Joy, CEO, Story ContractingAndy Chick, Managing Director, Rail SenseAntony Kearns, Managing Director, Rhomberg Sersa UK LtdBen Craze, CEO, Infinitive GroupBob Howells, Chairman, Smart Component Technologies LtdChris Pike, Partner, Sector Director UK Rail, ArcadisChris Rumfitt, Founder & Chief Executive, Field ConsultingProfessor Clive Roberts, Lead for the UKRRIN Centre of Excellence in Digital Systems, University of BirminghamColin Johnson, Managing Director, D/GaugeColin Wood, CEO, AECOM Europe & IndiaDaniel Saxton, Head of Rail Western Europe, TÜV RheinlandDanny Rigby, Managing Director, ModuxDarren Caplan, CEO, Railway Industry AssociationDarren James, CEO, KeltbrayDarren Reed, Managing Director Rail, WSPGary Elliott, Managing Director, Trough-Tec SystemsGrant Harley, General Manager, Petards RailEmily Kent, Co-Founder, One Big Circle LtdGareth Richardson, Managing Director, GeismarJames Bain, COO, Worldline; Chair, Rail Supply GroupJames Holmes, Rail Sector Director, AmeyJean-Pierre Bertrand, CEO, Colas Rail UKJo Field, Founder & CEO, JFG CommunicationsJonathan Willcock, Managing Director, Skanska InfrastructureJulie Owen, Interim CEO & CFO UKI, Siemens MobilityKeith Orgill, Director, OLE LtdLee Brun, Engineering Director, Mosdorfer RailManoj Agrawal, CEO, Softech RailMagnus Friberg, CEO, Icomera GroupMalcolm Wilson, Chair and Founder, IPEX ConsultingMarcus Allender, Cofounder & Business Development Director, Window Seater LtdMartin Hawley, Managing Director, SPL Powerlines UKMary Kenny, CEO, Eversholt Rail LtdMichael Byng, Managing Director, MBPC InfrastructureMike Carter, General Manager, Eaton Electrical ProductsMike Wilson, Managing Director, Henry Williams LtdNeil McNicholas, Managing Director, Unipart RailNick Crossfield, Managing Director, Alstom UK&INick Salt, CEO, SystraNina Lockwood, Founder & Director, Intuitive Interim & Executive Search LtdNuno Vasco, BDM & Railway Industry Lead, Phoenix Contact UKProfessor Paul Allen, Lead for the UKRRIN Centre of Excellence in Rolling Stock, University of HuddersfieldPaul Goodhand, Managing Director, Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems (UK)Paul Harrington, General Manager, Signature RailPaul Knighting, UK Head of Infrastructure Director, GleedsPaul Lester CBE, Chairman, TelentPaul McSharry, Managing Director, Kilborn ConsultingPaul Milner, Managing Director, MatisaPino De Rosa, Managing Director, Bridgeway Consulting LimitedRay Chapman, Director, Ray Chapman LtdRichard Chitty, Group Managing Director, Frankham Consultancy GroupRichard Wheldon, Rail Business Manager, Frazer-Nash ConsultancySimon Whatley, Managing Director, SRS Rail System International LtdSteve Barbour, Managing Director, Composite BraidingSteve Derrick, Managing Director, AARC Professional Services LimitedSteve Wooler, CEO, BWB Consulting LimitedStuart Burns, Managing Director, Dura CompositesTim Bentley, Group Sales & Commercial Director, Wabtec UKTrevor Bradbury, Director, PragmatexProfessor William Powrie, Lead for the UKRRIN Centre of Excellence in Infrastructure, University of SouthamptonWill Wilson, CEO, Linbrooke Services
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