Darren Caplan: Now is the right time to speed up railway projects

The Railway Industry Association, the trade body for more than 300 rail suppliers, calls for the Government to fast-track important schemes.

Sponsored Post: Darren Caplan: Plea to the Government – please reveal your proposals to enhance the UK’s railways

A lack of information about upcoming work, reduces rail businesses’ investment, jobs, and skills development, and threatens the ability of smaller rail firms to survive.

Sponsored Post: Darren Caplan: The rail industry is bigger than previously thought – and is ready to deliver even more for UK plc

In total, the industry employs more people than the entire city of Birmingham, and can play a crucial role in the country’s economic future.

Sponsored Post: Darren Caplan: Rail funding is heading in the right direction, but more must be done to smooth ‘boom and bust’

Since my last article, there has been real progress to improve rail funding overall. Next we should consider how to reduce uncertainty within the supply chain.

Sponsored Post: Darren Caplan: Passengers could suffer unless the Government makes up rail’s £500 million shortfall

The current funding mechanism causes harmful cycles of feast and famine.