Decarbonisation key to retain f

IF it wants the support of politicians in a post-pandemic world, the rail industry must get behind a new focus around decarbonisation, regional connectivity and providing an alternative to congested roads.

Andrew Meaney, partner at

Oxera (which advises Government on economics), warned delegates at The future of rail infrastructure in the UK - CP6, the Integrated Rail Plan, and Delivering Modernisation virtual conference on February 4 that the alternative would be the Treasury looking at the current situation, seeing the drop in commuter usage, and withdrawing the money for use elsewhere.

Meaney said the rail industry needs to be honest with itself when discussing major investment projects, and to ask if the business case stacks up. He explained that with the national debt now at £2 people,” he said.

“Rail no longer has a captive passenger market. Fundamentally, they will choose over cost and carbon. We need to recognise they will want to avoid congestion and parking charges, but driving will increasingly become electric and even autonomous.”

The Government currently spends around £800 million each month to support the railway. Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps told the Transport Select Committee on February 3 that £10.1 billion has so far been spent on the railways since the first lockdown last March.

Despite Meaney’s warning, Railway Industry Association Policy Director Kate Jennings said she didn’t think demand for rail would