RAIL MANIFESTO SCOTLAND Key Stats In Scotland, rail contributes: • £2.4bn GVA to the economy; • 46,000 jobs; • £667mn in tax revenue.
RIA’s Key UK Asks 1. Continue to invest in major rail schemes post-Coronavirus and support rail’s role in supporting the economic recovery; 2. Increase visibility of rail schemes, including publishing the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline; Williams Rail Review; Integrated Rail Plan and Transport Decarbonisation Plan; 3. Begin a rolling programme of electrification and orders for low carbon rolling stock, in order to decarbonise the network; 4. Bring forward digital signalling work to ensure the UK is able to meet the backlog in signalling work; and 5. Include rail in future trade deals and support the sector as a significant export in its own right.
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The rail network in Scotland provides vital connectivity to regions and communities in every corner of the country, as well as providing links to other areas of the UK. As an industry, it also plays an important economic role for the country. Although Coronavirus has had a big impact on passenger numbers and revenue, rail has a key role to play in driving an economic recovery from the pandemic and in helping reach Scotland’s ambitious net zero carbon emissions targets. In light of this and ahead of May’s Holyrood elections, RIA has set out five recommendations for Scotland’s future political leaders, to help the industry drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth for communities across the country. These align closely with RIA’s ‘Key UK Asks’ (left). Recommendation 1 Make the case for rail travel in the long-term, encouraging passengers back and a greater role for freight, as we recover from the Coronavirus pandemic. Rail travel and public transport can be a catalyst for the economic recovery and provides vital links to connect communities and reduce social exclusion right across the country. However, following the pandemic and as the economy reopens, the next Scottish Government will need to help make the case for the sector and work with the industry to help give passengers the confidence to travel by train, whilst supporting the role of rail freight in transporting more goods across the country. Recommendation 2 Continue to decarbonise the rail industry through electrification and fleet orders of low carbon rolling stock, in order to reach Scotland’s 2035 decarbonisation target. If Scotland is to decarbonise its rail network by 2035 and reach net zero by 2045, continued investment in sustainable rail travel wil be vital. Whilst rail is already a very low carbon mode of transport – contributing just 2% of UK transport emissions ria@riagb.org.uk www.riagb.org.uk
– further decarbonisation is required. To reach these targets, Scotland will need to continue electrifying the network through its rolling programme and begin fleet orders of low carbon rolling stock, including battery and hydrogen trains. Work to electrify the East Kilbride/Barrhead Corridor has commenced in February 2021 and at least partial electrification was announced for Borders and Fife routes. RIA welcomes Scotland’s ambition on zero carbon. This commitment to a rolling programme needs to continue so that Scotland can be a case study for zero carbon ahead of COP26. Recommendation 3
Scotland should ensure its engineering skills and capabilities are ready for this new technology which provides a huge opportunity for a pipeline of future work for the UK industry that Scottish suppliers will want to be able to access. RIA strongly supports the current Scottish Rail Cluster Builder initiative and wants to see sustained activity of this type, in order to support a growing rail industry. RIA urges that the industry works with the Scottish Goverment to improve the diversity of its leadership and workforce. RIA welcomes ScotRail signing up to the RIA - Women in Rail Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter and looks forward to working more closely to boost diversity in the rail sector. Recommendation 5
Continue to provide a visible and consistent pipeline of work for the rail industry, particularly as preparations for Control Period 7 are made.
Ensure R&D and innovation as well as digital technology are at the heart of the government’s plans for the future of the rail industry in Scotland.
In the coming years, the Scottish Government will need to set out its priorities for rail infrastructure for the upcoming five-year Control Period (CP).
Innovation will be critical to help the rail industry and transport as a whole to be more efficient, decarbonise and improve the passenger experience. RIA would like to see the next Scottish Government play an even more active role in supporting rail research and development.
For the current funding period, CP6, the Scottish Government did well to set out the key outputs and work it expected to be delivered, and as the rail sector approaches the next funding period, CP7, in 2024, it should similarly highlight a clear plan for the supply chain, that delivers improvements consistently over the five years. RIA urges the role of the rail supply industry, its capabilities and potential, to be considered as CP7 is planned. Recommendation 4 Support the rail industry to become more sustainable, increase skills and improve the diversity of its workforce. Even before the Coronavirus pandemic, the rail industry was facing an inconsistent pipeline of work which worked against addressing a skills gap caused by both technology change and a significant level of retirement in traditional skills. There is therefore an immediate opportunity - and need - to recruit and mentor a new generation of skilled staff. Moving forward, Scotland’s rail sector will require significant data and digital skills. Signalling renewal will need to continue apace and
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About RIA The Railway Industry Association is the voice of the UK rail supply community. We help to grow a sustainable, high-performing, railway supply industry, and to export UK rail expertise and products. RIA has 300+ companies in membership in a sector that contributes £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry. Find out more: www.riagb.org.ukdustry.
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