Eighteen months since the Government took office in July 2024, The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has delivered its third six-monthly assessment on the progress of UK rail policy.
RIA recognises there has been progress on rail reform – including initiation of the Government’s Railways Bill to establish Great British Railways – and there has been continued Government support for rail infrastructure, with projects such as HS2 (including to Euston), the Transpennine Route Upgrade and East West Rail.
However, RIA and its members have identified several areas where development has been slow and we would like to see more progress. In 2024, RIA set out its five main ‘asks’ of Government prior to the General Election. After 18-months RIA has now assessed the Government’s progress against these:
Publish a long-term strategy
RIA and our members welcome the Railways Bill inclusion of a legal requirement for the Department for Transport (DfT) to produce a Long-Term Rail Strategy. However, there needs to be a firmed-up date for publication and a roadmap for the development process.
Deliver on industry reform
We are encouraged that the Railways Bill is now progressing through Parliament and look forward to GBR being stood up in 2027. However, the next important step will be a consultation on the GBR licence, and RIA would like to see this in the first half of 2026.
Accelerate new train orders and low carbon network upgrades
RIA and our members welcome the DfT’s commitment to publish a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy in the summer and appreciate the engagement DfT has had with the supply sector in the formulation process. To maintain momentum, it is important the rolling stock and infrastructure strategy is published soon, certainly no later than when Parliament goes into recess on 16 July 2026.
Support a sustainable supply chain
A key finding from a recent RIA-commissioned survey of over 100 rail business leaders by independent pollster Savanta found that 85% think it likely there will be a hiatus in rail work over the next year, and more than 60% expect the rail market to contract and are freezing recruitment or laying off staff. It is now urgent that the Government takes action to improve clarity over future pipelines of work for suppliers, to give them the certainty they need to retain staff and invest in the short to medium term.
Leverage private investment
The railway needs to leverage private and third-party investment to supplement central Government funding. The Government’s 10-year Infrastructure Strategy published summer 2025 stated, for example, that the Government intends to explore the use of a Public Private Partnership to deliver an upgraded station at Euston. The Government should therefore publish a clear policy on rail and private investment. This could include piloting Station Investment Zones (which RIA recently proposed).
“After 18 months in office, the Railway Industry Association (RIA) acknowledges that there has certainly been progress by the Government, in taking forward rail reform and supporting major rail projects,” said Railway Industry Association (RIA) Chief Executive Darren Caplan. “However, by the time we make our two-year assessment in July 2026 there is still much to do.
“Rail suppliers remain concerned at the outlook for rail investment in 2026, whether infrastructure or rolling stock related. And whilst progress on rail reform is, of course, welcome many key rail improvements cannot wait until Great British Railways is stood up in 2027.
“So we urge the Government to publish its rail infrastructure and rolling stock strategy as soon as possible in 2026. We ask its Infrastructure Pipeline be developed to include more granular details than it currently has. We call on the Government, working with rail clients around the country, to improve clarity over forthcoming pipelines of work, so suppliers can have the certainty they need to retain staff and invest. And we ask the Government to intensify its efforts to leverage more private and innovative models of investment into rail.
“With surveys showing confidence in the rail market remaining fragile, action this year is crucial, not just to safeguard the future of the rail supply sector, but also to ensure customers and taxpayers get the best value for money as rail plays its part in delivering on the Government’s stated priority of accelerating economic growth.”
RIA will produce a full annual assessment on the occasion of the Government’s two-year milestone in July.
Image credit: Shutterstock/Ceri Breeze
