Eighteen months after the Government took office, the Railway Industry Association (RIA) has published its latest six-monthly assessment of progress on rail policy, welcoming steps forward on reform and investment while warning that momentum must now increase to give suppliers confidence.
In its third interim review since the July 2024 General Election, RIA recognises tangible progress, most notably the introduction of the Railways Bill to establish Great British Railways, alongside continued backing for major infrastructure schemes including HS2 to Euston, the Transpennine Route Upgrade and East West Rail.
However, the trade body says delivery has been uneven and that several critical areas remain slow to develop. RIA originally set out five key “asks” ahead of the election and has now measured progress against each.
On long-term strategy, RIA welcomes the Railways Bill requirement for the Department for Transport to publish a Long-Term Rail Strategy, but says a clear timetable and development roadmap are still missing. Similarly, while industry reform is advancing through Parliament, RIA is calling for a consultation on the Great British Railways licence in the first half of 2026 to maintain pace.
The association is also pressing for faster progress on rolling stock and decarbonisation. While it acknowledges the DfT’s commitment to publish a long-term rolling stock and infrastructure strategy, RIA says this must be delivered no later than summer 2026 to avoid further uncertainty.
Supply chain confidence remains a central concern. A recent RIA-commissioned Savanta survey found that 85% of rail business leaders expect a hiatus in work over the coming year, with more than 60% anticipating market contraction and responding by freezing recruitment or reducing headcount. RIA argues that clearer, more detailed pipelines of work are urgently needed to prevent skills loss and enable firms to invest.
The fifth area highlighted is private and third-party investment. While the Government’s 10-year Infrastructure Strategy signalled openness to alternative funding models, including potential public-private partnerships at stations such as Euston, RIA says a clear, consistent policy framework is now required. It has reiterated proposals such as piloting Station Investment Zones to help unlock private capital.
RIA chief executive Darren Caplan said the direction of travel was broadly positive but stressed that action in 2026 would be decisive. He warned that many improvements cannot wait until Great British Railways is formally established in 2027 and urged the Government to accelerate publication of strategies, improve the granularity of its infrastructure pipeline and intensify efforts to attract private investment.
With confidence across the supply chain still fragile, RIA argues that clearer leadership and faster delivery are essential, both to protect the long-term health of the rail industry and to ensure passengers and taxpayers see value as rail supports the Government’s wider growth ambitions.
