The
immediate
outlook
for
companies
supplying
the
railway
has
remained
‘strained’
since
the
Labour
government
was
elected
in
July,
according
to
the
Railway
Industry
Association.
In
an
open
letter
to
new
transport
secretary
Heidi
Alexander
RIA
has
welcomed
signs
of
progress,
including
the
government’s
support
for
East
West
Rail,
the
Transpennine
Route
Upgrade
and
HS2
to
Euston,
but
it
has
also
warned
that
confidence
is
low
in
the
railway
supply
chain,
and
that
there
have
been
‘significant’
job
losses.
RIA
is
asking
the
government
to
take
the
opportunity
offered
by
the
Treasury’s
Spending
Review
2025,
due
in
the
summer,
to
smooth
out
‘boom
and
bust’
work
cycles.
RIA
chief
executive
Darren
Caplan
said:
‘Six
months
into
the
new
Government
and
as
we
start
a
New
Year,
RIA
is
acknowledging
some
progress
on
support
for
major
rail
projects
and
its
call
last
autumn
for
a
long-term
rolling
stock
pipeline,
whilst
also
setting
out
some
“offers”
and
“asks”
to
boost
the
confidence
of
the
railway
industry
on
what
has
been
a
difficult
time
for
rail
suppliers.
‘Recent
confidence
has
been
low
and
2024
saw
job
losses
among
some
suppliers,
which
is
not
only
worrying
for
those
involved
but
which
also
threatens
to
then
increase
the
cost
of
work
in
the
future.
So
it
is
vital
the
Government
sets
out
a
positive
stall
for
the
next
12
months.
‘We
urge
the
Treasury
Spending
Review
to
provide
clarity
on
long-term
rates
of
work,
whether
new
railway
lines,
rolling
stock
or
electrification.
And
that,
given
many
key
rail
improvements
cannot
wait
until
the
establishment
of
Great
British
Railways
towards
the
end
of
2026
at
the
earliest,
decisions
on
major
projects,
enhancements
and
train
building
and
refurbishments,
are
brought
forward
to
help
to
attract
business
investment.’
He
added:
‘Despite
recent
mixed
reports
on
north-south
rail
infrastructure,
we
are
asking
Heidi
Alexander
to
look
at
the
need
to
develop
future
north-south
capacity,
given
forecasts
show
passenger
numbers
will
grow
significantly
in
the
coming
years.
Further,
we
ask
the
Government
to
push
on
speedily
this
year
with
its
agenda
to
deliver
rail
reform
and
bring
“track
and
train”
together.
Given
over
half
of
rail
expenditure
goes
through
the
supply
chain,
the
supply
sector
should
be
accorded
an
appropriate
role.’