News

• Nearly 7,500 food parcels have been delivered to Ukrainian Railway employees and their families, paid for by donations from British rail companies. 
• Industry body Rail Partners fundraised over £106,000 in donations to support Ukrainian rail workers on the front line. 
• The food packages include a variety of essentials all sourced in Ukraine to support the economy by buying from local producers.

Commenting on Railway Industry Association’s latest report, Mark Gaynor, Director of Operator Services at Rail Partners, said:

Commenting on the start of Network Rail’s 5-year delivery plan, Robert Girgis, Rail Partners’ director of policy said:

Commenting on ORR’s passenger rail usage statistics for October to December 2023, a spokesperson said:

Responding to the ORR’s latest statistics on rail freight usage and performance, Andy Bagnall, chief executive of Rail Partners, said:

Andy Bagnall, chief executive of Rail Partners, has responded to Alstom's open access application:

Andy Bagnall, chief executive of Rail Partners, responds to the National Audit Office report on rail reform:

• The Rail Partners Freight Parliamentary Reception 2024 at the House of Commons featured speeches from Rail Minister Huw Merriman MP, Lib Dem transport spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP, and Bill Esterson MP, Shadow Roads Minister (on behalf of Louise Haigh, Shadow Transport Secretary) to discuss their plans for rail freight ahead of the general election  
• The event follows the publication of Rail Partners’ report, Freight Britain: An engine for green growth which outlines a policy framework to support the delivery of rail freight growth  
• Both the Rail Minister and Shadow Transport Minister made clear that rail freight growth is a priority to support wider economic and environmental objectives.

Responding to the Spring Budget, Andy Bagnall, chief executive for Rail Partners, said:

• Rail Partners’ freight operator members are ready to invest in new trains, facilities and in skills, should government take measures to support the sector.  
• ‘Freight Britain: An engine for green growth’ offers a route map to delivering on the government’s 75% rail freight growth target and securing important economic and environmental benefits for a nation of rail freight customers. 
• The report’s five policy recommendations include a call – ahead of the budget statement – for government to address the widening cost gap between rail and road freight, to help businesses choose rail over more polluting transport modes.  

Invitation to The Rail Partners Freight Parliamentary Reception