£50bn boost for rail will deliver 40,000 new jobs
A £50BILLION investment in the rail industry is on track to create 40,000 jobs and 20,000 apprenticeships.
Passengers will allegedly see a “transformation”, with new trains, better services and revamped stations.
The Rail Delivery Group, representing train companies and Network Rail, said the 40,000 jobs would be created over the next 10 years.
A further 60,000 workers due to retire during that period will also be replaced.
An RDG spokesman said: “The jobs will be across the network – track construction, management and maintenance – but also signalling, train driving and customer-facing jobs.”
The RDG also said 5,700 new carriages will be in use by 2021.
RDG chief executive Paul Plummer will describe the launch of the In Partnership For Britain’s Prosperity plan as a “landmark coming together”.
He will tell an audience at London’s St Pancras International station today: “This plan, delivered by a changing partnership railway, will secure the economic benefits from current investment by the public and private sectors and enable further improvement and investment.
“That is why today we are making four commitments for change to safeguard our economic contribution whilst delivering the best deal for taxpayers, to improve services for customers, better connect local communities and secure more jobs in rail.
“This plan will deliver the railway that the economy, customers and communities need as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.”
Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “Network Rail’s transformation is bringing track and train more closely together for the benefit of passengers.
“This plan will accelerate change and deliver further investment.
“It will bring more improvements for passengers, communities and businesses across Britain now and in the long term.”