The Economic Contribution of UK Rail, published 2021
3.2 RAIL TRANSPORT SYSTEM IMPACTS BY REGION The impact of all UK railway-related activity by region was set out in Section 2.1.3, while impacts on an individual region-by-region basis are illustrated in Chapter 8. But the charts below show how the direct impact of the rail transport system is spread across the UK by region and country, in terms of the GVA generated (Fig. 32) and employment provided (Fig. 33). The main feature that stands out in this case is the high share of London-based activity in the total, reflecting the heavy reliance on commuter transport by mainline, underground, and light railway systems in that region, as well as the capital’s role as a major rail transport hub hosting several of the most important national rail terminals. However, as shown elsewhere in this report, the knockon benefits of expenditure associated these activities are spread much more evenly around the country. Fig. 32. UK rail transport system GVA in 2019, by region % of national total Rail transport 2% 7% 6% 2% 6% 5% system GVA
44%
UK 3% 10% 7% 6% 7% GVA
0% NE
NW
20% Y&H
EM
9%
24%
40% WM
12% 6% 1% 8% 1%
EE
14%
60% LDN
SE
7% 3% 8% 2%
80% SW
WAL
100% SCO
NI
Source: Oxford Economics
Fig. 33. UK rail transport system employment in 2019, by region % of national total Rail transport 3% 9% system jobs
8% 3% 7% 6%
UK 3% 11% jobs
0% NE
NW
8% 7%
8%
20% Y&H
EM
33%
9%
17%
40% WM
EE
13%
14%
60% LDN
SE
8% 2% 8% 1%
8% 4% 8% 3%
80% SW
WAL
100% SCO
NI
Source: Oxford Economics
30
