Engineers respond to McNulty rail review, 67% of manufacturers say UK railway inadequate

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Professor Rod Smith, President Elect of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said in response to release of the McNulty report:

“It is clear that the existing industry arrangements have produced a railway less efficient and more expensive than it could be, and the McNulty report includes some welcome proposals.

“Engineering expenditure, difficulties with the introduction of innovative technologies and inconsistent messages to the engineering supply chain have all contributed to higher than necessary costs.

“There are clear benefits to be gained from a more efficient railway and greater collaboration between Network Rail and train operators. This is positive from not only engineering and financial perspectives, but will also help the UK meet its carbon targets and help provide better services for passengers.

“The report falls short of recommending a wholesale restructuring of the railways and it will remain to be seen whether the proposals will be enough to address the inefficiencies of the current system.

“Key tests for the new system will be the speed at which new, more efficient technologies can be adopted, and whether there will be sufficient confidence from the engineering supply chain to make the investments needed to improve the efficiency of railway projects and operations.”

A new survey by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers of 1,000 manufacturers found that 67.3% said the UK’s rail infrastructure is inadequate for the development and growth of a modern manufacturing sector.

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