(Parliamentary Under Secretary
of State for Transport): As part of the Industrial
Strategy, the Government committed to making the most of the UK’s
strengths and to develop the infrastructure necessary to support
this. The UK’s rail network supports people getting to work and
training opportunities every day, enables businesses to access
the talent they need to grow, and moves goods across the country
and to our ports and airports.
The aim of this sector deal is to develop new, digital
capabilities to support the railway in becoming an even stronger
driver of economic growth and opportunity.
Sector Deals bring the industry and the Government together in
partnership to boost the productivity and earning power of
specific sectors. The Rail Sector Deal struck today follows
ambitious sector deals with the life sciences, automotive,
construction and artificial intelligence sectors.
The Government and rail industry have come together to agree a
plan to increase efficiency, improve journeys and increase the
sector’s capability to trade internationally. The deal was
developed through close engagement with the UK’s world class
consulting engineering sector and wider rail supply chain, and
with backing from the major train manufacturers in the UK. This
engagement from the industry has been led by the Rail Supply and
Delivery Groups, both of whom will be fundamental to delivering
these ambitions.
The Deal contains mutual commitments that will encourage
innovation to improve passenger experience, provide the
confidence necessary for investment in capital and skills, while
reducing the cost to the taxpayer of state-of-the art digital
rail control systems. Furthermore, the Deal, through
collaboration between train manufacturers and those providing
services and running the network, will provide a common data
platform. This will enable businesses to access highly useful
data held within the industry in order to develop services and
products to meet passengers’ needs. This Deal also includes a
pilot programme in the Midlands to attract further diversity and
skills into our growing railway, supported by the Midlands
Engine, LEPs and other regional partners.
