A major Rail Review highlighted a recommendation from CIHT that net zero requirements must find its way into contracts that ensure carbon impacts are measured and managed. CIHT said this would create a level playing field on which the supply chain can compete and increasingly collaborate to bring solutions.
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In May 2021, the government announced its plans for the biggest reform to the railway in three decades through the publication of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail. The Plan for Rail commissioned a 30-year strategy for the railway, setting the strategic context and key priorities for the sector, which will be developed for Ministers by Great British Railways.
In December 2021, a call for evidence was launched to help inform the development of the strategy. Respondents were asked to provide evidence based on five key strategic objectives, which have been set by the government for the rail industry to deliver: meeting customer needs, delivering financial sustainability, contributing to economic growth, supporting levelling up and connectivity, and delivering environmental sustainability.
CIHT responded to the review welcoming the long-term focus and the opportunity to contribute our feedback. In the response by CIHT, some of the key points included:
CIHT would like the UK Government to establish a National Transport Strategy (NTS), as this is lacking in England and that the Great British Railways strategy would be a component of this.
A NTS would help the government to provide a clear vision and strategy that sets out how transport will contribute to key policy areas. CIHT will work with government, other national bodies and sub-national transport groups to develop the vision and strategy.
The strategy should set a clear framework of requirements over a minimum 10-year period for all elements of our transportation networks. This strategy should include the strategic and local highway networks, rail, aviation and ports and set out how those networks integrate with one another.
It should include a pipeline of infrastructure investment that would encourage business to invest in the resources needed to deliver in a wide range of government policy areas – equality, health, sustainability and developing a prosperous economy.
The report by Great British Railways summarises the evidence of the 307 organisations and individuals that responded to the call for evidence. Key themes include decarbonisation, accessibility, the need for a strong customer service ethos and financial sustainability, as well as the importance of integrating with other transport. In this report they directly referenced a point in CIHT's evidence:
“Net Zero requirements must find its way into contracts that ensure carbon impacts are measured and managed. This will create a level playing field on which the supply chain can compete and increasingly collaborate to bring solutions.”
You can read the full call for evidence response report as a PDF here:
You can read a summary version of the call for evidence response report as a PDF here:
You can read CIHT's response here:
February 2022 - Great British Railways WISP Call for Evidence Response
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