We welcome The Railway Industry Association’s publication – 10 reasons why rail investment should continue – ahead of the Spending Review and in light of the debate over Coronavirus’s impact on the future of transport.

The report sets out the case for how railways can play a pivotal role in the UK’s economic recovery, and the reasons are set out here:

  1. Rail is a long-term game – Investments in infrastructure or rolling stock are usually delivered, and create continuing value for passengers and the wider economy, over years.
  2. The reduction in passenger numbers is likely to be temporary – Based on previous economic slumps in the 1980s, 1990s and post-2008, as well as past health crises, passenger numbers have always recovered to continue their pattern of growth.
  3. Rail is not just for passengers – It is also vital for freight, with over 4 billion tonnes being delivered annually before Coronavirus.
  4. Rail travel is clean and safe – A study undertaken by RSSB in August 2020 estimates that the risk of infection per passenger journey is 1-in-11,000 journeys, with similar results found in other countries.
  5. Investment can support the whole of the UK – The rail network touches almost every part of the country and has the potential to unlock a new generation of talent.
  6. Rail can lead the green recovery – It is not possible to meet zero carbon goals for transport without rail. Rail is a green mode of mass transit, contributing just 2.5% of greenhouse gas emissions from transport and only 0.6% of total UK emissions.
  7. Rail cannot easily be mothballed – Once rail infrastructure is decommissioned, it is not easily reopened.
  8. Rail investment has a knock-on economic impact – For every £1 spent on the rail network, £2.20 value is delivered in the wider economy.
  9. Investment cannot wait – Much of the rail spending planned cannot be postponed, in order to meet our decarbonisation and digitalisation targets.
  10. There is a clear window to get work done – The pandemic has provided an opportunity to get work done without impact on services, which should be capitalised on before passenger and freight numbers return.

You can download here: 10 reasons to continue to invest in rail