The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has released an ambitious blueprint titled “Delivering a Lower Cost, Higher Performing Net Zero Railway by 2050”. The Association, which mainly represents the interests of supply chain members, says it is aiming to revolutionise the UK’s railway network. So, no pressure there. Their report outlines a comprehensive strategy. It promises to develop the network for both freight and passenger operators. It claims to achieve this at a lower cost and faster pace than current plans allow.
Central to the Railway Industry Association’s proposal is an integrated ‘track and train’ plan. There are some similarities with the current government proposal to replace Network Rail. The existing infrastructure agency will be replaced with a more wide-ranging ‘all railway’ body. The RIA says their report builds upon existing frameworks to reduce the long-term operational costs of running the railway. Their proposals are, according to the Association, more affordable. They say it also enhances network performance, offering a plausible and deliverable solution to meet future demands.
Plan of thirds addresses evolving needs
It may be asked why didn’t anyone think of this before. Flexibility is a key aspect of the RIA plan. The Association says it lays out an agile framework designed to adapt to changes, including shifts in demand growth. By embracing adaptability, the strategy aims to ensure the resilience and sustainability of the railway network in the face of evolving needs and challenges.
The report introduces a “plan of thirds”. It goes on to delineate a systematic approach to electrification and decarbonisation. While over one-third of the network is already electrified, according to the RIA, another third can be decarbonised immediately using battery trains with lower life cycle costs. The remaining third requires electrification by 2050 to achieve net-zero emissions if the government is to meet its own legislative imperative. The RIA says to reach these targets only a fifteen per cent uplift in additional electrification is needed beyond existing government plans.
Collaborative effort could make almost all freight net-zero
In a bid to tackle climate change, the report sets ambitious targets to decarbonise all passenger services and 95 per cent of freight services by 2050. They say that can be done by leveraging sustained electrification efforts. What is pivotal to the new report is that the plan foresees no significant requirement for additional public funding in the next decade. RIA claims this is a credible approach to reducing costs and breaking the cycle of ‘boom and bust’ in infrastructure and rolling stock investment. Recognising the need for collaboration, the report calls for cross-industry cooperation to further develop the plan and ensure its successful implementation. A collaborative effort will be essential in refining the strategy.
The RIA says it will work with the “guiding mind” concept of Great British Railways, the proposed overarching agency for track and train management. The Association wants to see a pivotal step towards achieving a greener, more cost-effective railway network for the UK. A lower-cost, higher-performing, and net-zero railway by 2050 seems like a bold initiative. If that laudable strategy paves the way for a sustainable and resilient transportation infrastructure that will benefit both passengers and freight operators across the country, then it really will be welcomed as a spark of genius.