The UK’s Rail Supply Group (RSG), a partnership between the British government and rail equipment suppliers, has presented its ‘vision statement’ for growth in the sector over the next 10 years.
By 2025, the strategy predicts that the UK rail industry will more than double export volumes, be a global leader in high-speed rail and create a sustainable skilled domestic workforce.
The vision statement was launched by Business Secretary Vince Cable, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Terence Watson, president of Alstom UK and co-chairman of the RSG.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Britain’s valuable train supply chain is renowned for excellence in an array of disciplines from train design to signal solutions.
“We are committed to keeping the industry on track as a global leader which is why we are creating a unique partnership through the Rail Supply Group.
“The group will work together to future proof this valuable sector through a long-term Rail Supply Chain Industrial Strategy – creating more jobs and ensuring the UK can capture a share of the global rail market, worth £150 billion per year.”
Terence Watson said: “All of the UK’s industrial companies should be watching the rail sector closely. There are opportunities for growth not only for established players, but for digital, manufacturing, engineering and service companies of all sizes and from all industries.
“We need the best of the UK’s talented, innovative and entrepreneurial people to help us create a truly world class rail supply industry – and to make the UK a global leader in rail again.”
Yes, in the HST / Inter-City 125, BREL produced the best train in terms of comfort, looks and possibly operating experience which has still not been bettered in the UK since. Mark 4s, and Pendolinos don’t match it and don’t start me on the Voyagers. Perhaps, one day, we could get back to those skills of design.
Totally agree that Britain should endeavour to get back those past design skills but unfortunately, the train builders today are multinational companies with corporate headquarters outside of the UK. Consequently even though there may be some excellent designers at Derby, if a new world-beating innovative design emerges from the team at Litchurch Lane, it will undoubtedly have to be vetted by Bombardier Transportation HQ in Berlin because the new design may not necessarily be put into production in the UK. This procedure will occur in any such organisation, whereby the people at the top (e.g. at global or corporate headquarters) make any decisions that may affect the company globally. It is therefore a pity that there are no British-owned train builders left, who can come up with new designs and make production decisions here in the UK.