With the Labour Party winning a landslide victory in the general election, Keir Starmer has vowed that, as the new Prime Minister, he will rebuild Britain.
“We said we would end the chaos and we will,” he announced. “We said we would turn the page and we have. Today we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country.”
But what does that mean for Rail?
Labour’s manifesto set out a vision to: “deliver a unified and simplified rail system that relentlessly focuses on securing improved services for passengers and better value for money for taxpayers.”
It has promised to “create a unified and simplified governance structure that places passengers at the heart of the mission, objectives and incentives for the railway, and places train operators under public ownership and control.”
As Rail prepares for significant change under Starmer, the response from the industry has been congratulatory and optimistic.
Commenting on the election results, Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Rail Industry Association (RIA) said: “Labour’s Plan for Rail, published earlier in the year, is clear that the railways are crucial for delivering UK economic growth. Labour has pledged to bring forward a strong pipeline of work for the rail supply sector and to develop a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock.
“RIA and our members now look forward to working with the new Government to achieve its goals for rail. With passenger growth returning strongly, and as we seek a fresh start for the UK railway industry, we urge the new Government to deliver on our and our members’ five main RIA Manifesto asks: to publish a long-term rail strategy; bring about railway industry reform; accelerate new train orders and low carbon network upgrades; support a sustainable supply chain; and leverage private investment.
“We wish the new Government well on its ambitious transport agenda, and specifically its plans for rail, in the coming months and years.”
Viki Bell, director of Operations at the Construction Equipment Association (CEA), commented: “We are ready to engage actively with the new Labour Government to address the crucial challenges and seize the opportunities highlighted in our 2024 Manifesto. The commitment to decarbonisation, digital transformation, and skills development outlined in Labour’s platform aligns closely with our industry’s goals.
“Labour’s plans to introduce a new industrial strategy, developed in partnership with businesses through an Industrial Strategy Council, will leverage Britain’s strengths in life sciences, digital, creative industries, financial services, and clean power. This collaboration will drive growth and innovation, benefiting the construction equipment industry and the wider economy.
Kate Jennings, chief executive officer of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering and the Environmental Industries Commission, added: “In June we shared a 100 day plan for this new chapter of UK government. The plan contains practical steps including the need for an infrastructure and industrial strategy, investment pipeline and effective risk management, to accelerate the development of much needed infrastructure, while placing nature and biodiversity at the heart of all designs.
“The depletion of nature and the escalating need for climate resilient facilities, buildings and spaces, to sustain our planet and growth, means that this is the time to change how decisions and choices are made.
“We look forward to working in partnership with our members and national, devolved and local government stakeholders to advocate and where possible help to take our plan forward.
Rail has endured a tumultuous time in recent years and much work must be done to win the trust of customers, suppliers, operators, and authorities alike. The Labour Government must hit the ground running in its efforts to get the industry back on track.
The next months and years will be crucial if the new government hopes to deliver on its promises.
Image credit: iStockphoto.com
