Railway Industry Association response to the Transport Select Committee’s call for evidence for their inquiry into skills for transport manufacturing
15 September 2025 1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1.
This paper provides the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA) response to the questions raised in the Transport Select Committee’s call for evidence for their inquiry into skills for transport manufacturing. This response draws on engagement with RIA members, research from Oxford Economics commissioned by RIA, engagement with other trade associations, and wider research conducted in-house by RIA.
2.
ABOUT RIA
2.1.
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) champions a dynamic UK rail supply sector. We help to grow a sustainable, and high-performing railway as well as promoting UK rail expertise and products to international markets. RIA has over 450 companies in membership, which is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number).
2.2.
The rail industry is a foundation sector for the UK’s economy which supports sustainable investment and jobs in towns and communities across the UK. The sector contributes more than £41 billion in economic growth and £14 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 640,000 people. It is also a vital industry for the UK’s economic recovery, supporting green investment and hubs in towns and communities across the UK; for every £1 spent in rail, £2.50 is generated in the wider economy.
3.
CLARIFICATIONS
3.1.
In the case of this inquiry, we believe that manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, refurbishment, repair and upkeep all fall within the scope, as part of the broader notion of producing vehicles, buses, aeroplanes, ships, and trains and rolling stock.
3.2.
It is important to consider the difference between rolling stock manufacturing and assembly. Given the role of global just-in-time supply chains, components are manufactured in different countries and often assembled in others. In the case of rail locomotive and rolling stock manufacturing, both UK-based assembly and manufacturing should be considered in scope.
4.
ABOUT THE UK RAIL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
4.1.
The UK rail manufacturing industry covers a breadth of skills and jobs and is a highly productive sector.
4.2.
Using the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) Industrial Strategy sector definitions, multiple areas of rail manufacturing that fall into “Advanced Manufacturing”, based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, as outlined by Eurostat as being medium-high-technology or high-technology:1 2 •
Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products (SIC code 26) 1/19