Rail Partners responds to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement
In response to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement, Rail Partners’ Chief Executive, Andy Bagnall, said:
‘In this difficult fiscal climate, Rail Partners welcomes the Government’s vote of confidence in the railway with a recommitment to capital funding for key rail infrastructure projects such as HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, and East West Rail – boosting our economy and helping decarbonise the transport sector.
‘The confirmation of previous funding levels set out in last year’s Spending Review means that, like other sectors, the impact of inflation on the railway will make recovery from the pandemic an even greater challenge. We must find new ways to harness private sector operators to drive rail revenue recovery if we are to close the gap in industry finances.’
Notes to editors
About Rail Partners
Rail Partners exists to make the railway better by harnessing the expertise and creativity of private sector operators for the benefit of those who use the railway, passengers and freight customers, and those who pay for it, including taxpayers.
Rail Partners provides advocacy and policy solutions for its private sector passenger owning group and freight company members. It also provides technical services to train operating companies in both the public and private sectors.