The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has released a comprehensive review of the Government’s performance on rail policy, marking the administration’s first full year in office since 5 July 2024.
Titled “One Year of Government – The Railway Industry Association’s Review of UK Rail”, the report evaluates progress across key policy areas based on three categories: fulfilled RIA asks, visible progress or announcements, and areas where progress remains unclear.
The RIA’s assessment focuses on several longstanding priorities for the rail industry. These include the advancement of the Railways Bill to establish Great British Railways (GBR), the development of a long-term strategic vision for the sector, greater private sector involvement, and the need for a visible and predictable pipeline of infrastructure projects to stimulate investment and job creation.
Progress acknowledged in key areas
RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan welcomed the positive steps taken over the past year, highlighting some encouraging developments.
“It is clear that, on the anniversary of its first year in power, some progress has been made by the Government on rail policy, and this is to be welcomed,” Caplan said.
He pointed to announcements from the June Spending Review and funding for the cities and towns rail scheme as notable achievements. He also welcomed the Government’s stated commitment to a long-term rail strategy, including a promised rolling stock pipeline.
“This is vital to reducing the cost and increasing the value of public investment in the railways,” Caplan added. “We look forward to seeing further details of the Government’s promised Infrastructure Pipeline, set to be published later this month, which should give clarity to rail suppliers on specific future investments.”
Call for greater ambition
Despite these positive signals, RIA’s review stresses the need for faster and more ambitious action in several key areas. Chief among these is the integration of private funding into rail schemes, which RIA sees as essential to unlocking wider investment, particularly in station developments linked to housing projects.
The association also called for more urgency on rail reform and the creation of GBR — a process seen as central to ending fragmentation in the system and improving delivery.
Caplan urged policymakers to embed devolution within transport planning to ensure regional authorities can play a more significant role in shaping the future of rail.
A historic year and a pivotal opportunity
RIA’s report also draws attention to the symbolic importance of the year ahead — 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of UK Rail and the 150th anniversary of the RIA.
“Ultimately, we encourage the Government to use 2025 as a starting point to collaborate more closely with the railway industry and its fantastic supply sector,” Caplan said. “Together we can build the best railway possible.”
The association also reiterated its hope that more of its Manifesto ‘asks’ — a set of policy recommendations published ahead of the 2024 election — will be delivered in the coming months and years.
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