The future of Britain’s trains to be investigated in Transport Committee session
The Transport Committee will investigate uncertainty in the train manufacturing sector.
The one-off session follows recent news that manufacturer Alstom may make large numbers of staff at its factory in Derby redundant.
Meeting details
Likely areas of questioning
MPs will examine the Government’s and the wider sector’s strategy for ensuring rolling stock is fit for the future needs of the rail sector, and whether the manufacturing industry has a sustainable pipeline of orders from domestic and international customers.
There are also questions around whether the cancellation of the Birmingham-to-Manchester leg of HS2 has had a significant impact on the manufacturers’ order books.
The cross-party Committee will also examine the industry’s efforts to decarbonise through electrification and alternative fuels. Just 38% of the rail network is currently electrified.
Questions around the future role of Great British Railways as a guiding mind for the sector, and strategies for procuring rolling stock, are likely to be raised.
Among the witnesses will be David Clarke, Technical Director of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), whose membership includes 350 companies. In a July 2023 report the RIA said: “Urgent decisions are needed this year to prevent a crisis and job losses in the rolling stock upgrade industry.”
He will be joined by Nick Crossfield, Managing Director of Alstom UK & Ireland. In December 2021 Alstom, alongside Hitachi, was awarded a joint contract to build HS2 trains.
Also attending will be Angel Trains Chief Executive Malcolm Brown. His company owns and maintains 4,274 passenger vehicles, with a further 605 on order.