On Friday 26th February, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP gave opening remarks to Rail Project SPEED Conference organised by the Railway Industry Association (RIA), Department for Transport and Network Rail. The video of the Prime Minister’s opening remarks can be downloaded here.
During his speech, the Prime Minister thanked those in the rail industry for their work over the pandemic and backed a return to rail as the economy opens up, saying “good efficient mass transit systems are the great social and economic levellers and bringers of hope” as the economy seeks to bounceback post-lockdown.
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “The Prime Minister is right about the role rail will play post-Coronavirus.
“As lockdown restrictions are eased, people will be eager to travel whether to work, see friends and family, or simply to visit parts of the country they have been unable to go to over the past year.
“So we need a strong, effective, railway for when they return, which means continuing to invest in upgrading the network, which will also support the UK’s economy at such a critical time.”
Photo and video credit: RIA
