The Transport Committee recently released two reports on Rail Investment Pipelines: Ending Boom and Bust, both of which reference NSAR data.
Referenced throughout the report:
- The National Skills Academy for Rail argued that current methods of workforce planning could be increasing people costs by as much as 7.25 per cent for individual projects.
- The National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) cited the well-documented skills challenges currently faced by the railway industry, including within the rail supply sector.
- NSAR argued that a stable pipeline would allow industry to anticipate and address skills needs in advanced digital and green technologies, ensuring readiness for innovations in signalling, rail vehicles, and predictive maintenance.​
- Consistent investment also safeguards jobs and apprenticeships and could address acute skills shortages.
Our recommendations are well reflected in the Committee’s proposals to Government. They have proposed the following, which align with our evidence:
- A steady pipeline would support jobs at all levels of the supply chain and facilitate workforce planning
- The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) should be updated annually, provide five years of funding certainty, and avoid becoming an unfunded Wishlist
- Publish a Rolling Stock Strategy and Long-Term Rail Strategy
- A rolling programme of electrification
- A rail investment pipeline should clearly highlight opportunities for private and devolved authority investment
- The Control Period could be improved; Government should review work smoothing within settlements
- A consistent strategic vision of what the railway is for and how it will contribute to Government priorities is fundamental to a stable pipeline