RIA responds to the NIC’s Infrastructure Progress Review 2023
Commenting on the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) Infrastructure Progress Review 2023, Railway Industry Association (RIA) Chief Executive Darren Caplan said:
“The Railway Industry Association welcomes the publication of the National Infrastructure Commission’s Infrastructure Progress Review 2023. This review makes clear the importance of pushing on with major infrastructure projects, including HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and East West Rail.
“To secure value for the tax and fare payer, it is crucial the Government provides certainty and clarity for the rail supply chain. That means sticking to plans for transformational rail projects once they are made, and not chopping and changing things after construction has started – as has clearly been the case with HS2. This simply has a negative impact on supply chain confidence and drives costs higher.
“To maximise the return on the investment these projects require, it is also important for the Government to complete them in full. Delaying construction or scaling back projects often leads to the worst of all worlds, with higher costs in the long term, and delayed benefits and reduced connectivity. This NIC report therefore is a timely reminder."
