We recently hosted our inaugural conference at Birmingham’s Thinktank Museum. The aim of the event was to address the longstanding skills shortage facing the rail industry, and in particular, how high speed rail can be a catalyst for transforming the skills base for the better. Chaired by Broadcaster Steph McGovern, the event offered delegates Read more…
The redevelopment of London Bridge Station will meet growing transport needs by increasing both passenger and rail capacity at the station by 40 percent, taking passenger capacity from around 50 million to 75 million. High Speed Rail Industry Leaders (HSRIL) held a focus group event here recently, inviting a number of senior representatives from SME’s locally to take part in discussions designed to explore their role in the delivery of high speed rail. The session was hosted by Costain, (more…)
High Speed Rail Industry Leaders has been speaking, through its membership, to SME’s to gauge how they view the opportunities presented by the development of high speed rail in the UK, and in particular the HS2 project, with the aim of helping to maximise the beneficial effects of HSR development throughout the UK supply chain. The Read more…
The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure Investment and Cities in Scotland and the UK Transport Minister met in Waverley Station to launch two long awaited reports, one from HS2 Ltd on Anglo-Scottish high-speed rail, the other on the case for high-speed rail between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Their common aim has settled on what the Scottish Ministers have long sought: a three hour journey time from Edinburgh and Glasgow to London.
The High Speed Scotland Summary Report sets out the appraisal of a high speed rail connection between Glasgow and Edinburgh, which emerged from initial feasibility work carried out by Transport Scotland when considering potential options for linking Scotland to the high speed network being developed by HS2 Ltd. The report also takes into account the Broad options for upgraded and high speed railways to the North of England and Scotland study, which outlines findings from the feasibility study of delivering journey times of 3 hours or less between London and Scotland, by looking in to upgrade options to the existing West Coast Main Line (WCML) and East Coast Main Line (ECML), and options for high speed routes extending from HS2 Phase Two.
Keith Brown, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities (more…)
The Shaw Report into the future of Network Rail has been published and the findings will be considered by the government with a full response issued later in the year. The key objectives of the report were to explore how to give the railway industry a local/customer focus, establish financial Read more…
High Speed Rail Industry Leaders (HSRIL) recently submitted a response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s consultation, which closed on 17th March 2016. We believe that our collective view is especially relevant to this particular consultation, offering a view on the governance, structure and operation of the commission that would ensure the integrity and Read more…
HS2 will be the biggest ever single investment in the UK rail network. With this huge level of investment, the industry bears the responsibility to deliver the project as efficiently as
possible and to ensure that taxpayers get the most value for their spend. Last year, High Speed Rail Industry Leaders (HSRIL) produced a report outlining how the rail industry will build Britain’s new high speed railway. ‘Poised to Deliver’ uses examples from its member companies, lessons learnt and experience built up (more…)
After almost two years, 160 days of sittings, and having heard almost 1,600 petitions the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill Select Committee has published its second and final report. The Committee provided individuals and bodies directly and specially affected by the Bill with the opportunity to object to specific Read more…
The Rail Supply Group (RSG) has launched its strategy to build growth in the UK rail industry and support exports. Fast Track to the Future sets out the sector’s long-term commitment to increase manufacturing and innovation capability and enhance productivity, skills and employment to support UK economic growth.
High Speed Rail Industry Leaders welcomed the strategy: “The Rail Supply Group and TISS reports in recent days mark a significant step forward in the development of a rail industry skills strategy.
“There is nothing of greater importance to the sector than developing our people. The RSG strategy today identifies High Speed Rail as a cross cutting theme. There is no greater opportunity to demonstrate that rail can be a high-technology and advanced industry and we should use the development of HS2 as a catalyst to invest in our skills base and transform perception of the railways, attracting once again the brightest and the best to the careers it can offer.” (more…)
HSRIL held a focus group with business representatives and local politicians in Ashford to discuss the benefits that high speed rail can bring to the local supply chain, and the local economy. Hosted by Hitachi Rail Europe at their flagship Ashford Train Maintenance Centre, the session used HS1 as a case study to focus Read more…