As the UK rail industry celebrates its bicentenary, we find ourselves faced with one fundamental question: what is the railway for today? Back in the 19th century, rail was a revolutionary force both economically and socially, serving as a key catalyst of the industrial revolution.
Today, rail sits at the intersection of some of the most pressing challenges facing UK policymakers: kickstarting economic growth, levelling up deindustrialised regions (even if the term itself has fallen out of use), meeting sustainability goals and fostering greater diversity and inclusion at all levels.
I've often emphasised the importance of changing the narrative around rail, but there is a need for a change in mindset too, from crisis thinking to opportunity building. As Laura Shoaf has put it, "We will define the future of the industry – and what a privilege that is."
Rail as an economic catalyst
One thing we do know – and need to shout about – is that investment in rail delivers exceptional returns for people, communities and economic productivity. According to one study, rail makes an annual contribution of £36 billion to UK GDP, with a return of £2.20 for every £1 spent.
Altogether, the industry supports more than 710,000 jobs; this includes 240,000 employed directly in the rail sector, along with another 470,000 in the wider supply chain. You only have to think about the sheer breadth of roles in rail, from engineers and drivers to station staff, signallers and suppliers.
Despite the cancellation of the planned Birmingham to Manchester extension, HS2 has supported more than 30,000 construction jobs, along with 2,000 apprenticeships. We know that good rail connectivity acts as a major driver of investment; London's Elizabeth Line, for example, is estimated to have generated £42 billion in economic output, spurring housing and commercial growth.
What's more, investment in public transport plays an important role in spurring productivity, which is necessary to underpin healthy and sustainable economic growth. Northern Powerhouse Rail has been projected to deliver annual productivity gains of up to £3.4 billion, while Centre for Cities warned back in 2022 that inadequate public transport networks were a drag on productivity in northern cities.
Rail as a driver of social value and inclusion
It's essential to remember that rail is more than just a means of transport; of getting people from one place to another. Much more than this, it's a platform for enhancing people's life chances – both those who work within the industry and those who are enabled to seize on new opportunities by the connectivity rail transport provides.
Indeed, greater connectivity means greater opportunity: access to a wider range of employment and education options, as well as helping people to access essential services like healthcare. Stations and railway lines, then, should be seen as vital community hubs, linking communities and people to one another.
Investing in Britain's railways, therefore, is investing in its people too. The rail industry offers a plethora of rewarding career options, potentially leading to lifelong vocations across a wide spectrum
of roles, while major infrastructure projects can offer career pathways into STEM, engineering, digital and operational jobs – vital for youth employment opportunities and re-skilling older workers.
At the same time, we must ensure that diversity and inclusion underpin the future growth of UK rail. This involves building a workforce that truly reflects the communities it serves. Social value must not be seen as a mere by-product, but instead as a core driver of success in rail and public transport more generally.
Rail, the environment and decarbonisation
The UK government has set itself some ambitious environmental targets. In particular, it has committed – and this is enshrined in UK law – to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But a green future depends on getting more people and freight off the roads and on to rail. Electrified rail uses seven times less carbon dioxide than road transport and 20 times less than air travel, while rail freight takes thousands of HGVs off the UK's roads – reducing congestion, emissions and the burden of road maintenance costs.
New, energy-efficient technologies and station design techniques are also helping the UK work towards its net-zero goals, while electrification and new technologies continue to advance – creating a future-proof, sustainable infrastructural backbone to support the entire rail network.
Without adequate investment in new rail capacity and infrastructure, however, Britain's net-zero targets are likely to be unachievable. The cost of inaction is therefore far higher than the price of progress.
Shaping the future of rail, together
The question we need to answer today, then, isn't what the railway was for 200 years ago – it's what it can and should be for now. It's often been said that UK rail has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to define what comes next, but with that opportunity comes the collective responsibility to make the most of it.
Of course, it's good to celebrate our history as an industry as we mark this important milestone. But rather than resting on our laurels and luxuriating in past glories, or allowing ourselves to be intimidated by the scale of the challenges before us, we should emphasise the enormity of the contribution UK rail makes today to our society, economy and culture.
Rail remains indispensable for economic growth, social progress and environmental sustainability, and this is just part of the story we need to tell. We are the generation of railway people that will shape the future of the industry – to borrow a phrase from the poet June Jordan, we are the ones we've been waiting for. Let's go forward with that in mind.
