The Railway Industry Association has welcomed the call by the Transport Select Committee for a clear strategy in the future procurement of new trains.
RIA Director General Jeremy Candfield commented:
“It is absolutely essential that the supply industry has a clearer understanding of future rolling stock needs if it is to plan resources for efficient delivery. It is now 981 days since an order for mainline passenger trains was placed.
“The current situation of long gaps between orders and great uncertainty over timescales adds significantly to costs and deters investment in skills and equipment.
“We urge that a long-term rolling stock strategy is published, developing from the Initial Industry Plan and Network Rail Passenger Rolling Stock RUS documents that the railway industry has jointly produced.
“We fully support the Committee’s recommendation that the Government explain how the very welcome improvements to procurement practices they have recently announced will be applied,” he concluded.
