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The Williams Review
113Summer 2021
WILLIAMS-SHAPPS PLAN PUBLISHED
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On 20 May, the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail was published, Periods will cover both operations and services. Network Rail setting out the Goverment's strategy for restructuring the rail will be absorbed into the new body, with its current Chair Sir sector. Peter Hendy and Chief Executive
Announcing the plan, the Andrew Haines continuing in Prime Minister said he was a their roles. "great believer in rail" and that RIA broadly welcomed the the Government will deliver White Paper, in particular the a rail system the country can Government's emphasis for the be "proud of". The Transport role of the private sector and the Secretary Grant Shapps said: ideas for long-term plans for the "It’s now time to kickstart sector. reforms that give the railways RIA Chief Executive Darren solid and stable foundations Caplan said he was "heartened for the future, unleashing the that the new Williams-Shapps competitive, innovative and Plan for Rail is a 30-year strategy, expert abilities of the private The 'Plan for Rail' sets out the restructure of the industry which supports modernisation sector, and ensuring passengers and investment along the lines of come first." the RIA Rail 2050 manifesto we published in November 2019."
The headline announcement is that the Government will He added that the supply chain's major ask at this stage, establish a new public body, Great British Railways (GBR), to "is that the restructure of UK rail does not cause any hiatus in be a single guiding mind and manage train and track. GBR will work being done to renew and enhance railway infrastructure integrate the railways, owning the infrastructure, collecting fare or rolling stock". A briefing was circulated to members and an revenue, running and planning the network, and setting most event has been organised with Network Rail CEO Andrew Haines fares and timetables. From 2024, 5-year investment Control to explore what the Plan means for the supply chain.
RailDecarb21 campaign launched
RIA has launched a campaign calling for action to decarbonise the rail network ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.
The campaign was launched at EuroRail Hub and has since seen a new report launched, entitled 'Why Rail Electrification?'. The report was published alongside an open letter to the Transport Secretary signed by more than 15 organisations from across the rail industry.
Read more on page 4.
This year's Innovation Conference was held from 28-30 April and saw RIA 'shoot for the stars' with Apollo astronaut Charle Duke attending as a guest speaker. He joined leading industry figures including the Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines OBE and many more.
Find out more on page 12.
PM gets behind rail at SPEED Conference
On 26 February, RIA hosted the rail Project SPEED Conference on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT) and Network Rail.
The event - attended by over 2,000 industry colleagues was opened by Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP who thanked those in the rail industry for their work over the pandemic and backed a return to rail as the economy opens up, saying “good efficient mass transit systems are the great social and economic levellers and bringers of hope”. RIA is holding follow up sessions with Network Rail.
