ICE submission to the Transport Committee inquiry on rail investment pipelines

This inquiry by the Transport Committee examines how a planned, steady pipeline of projects and investments could benefit rail development in the UK.

The ICE’s response makes the following key points:

• Pipeline uncertainty is reflected in the level of stop/start infrastructure planning and delivery in the UK. This has driven up costs and weakened confidence in the government’s commitment and ability to deliver major infrastructure projects.
• To increase private sector infrastructure investment the UK government should focus on increasing certainty and lowering the risks, costs and time associated with delivering projects.
• The leadership and capability of key supply chains must be nurtured and grown so they can take on the huge infrastructure challenges required to meet wider societal objectives.
• A clear, consistent and detailed project pipeline is a key component of this. The pipeline needs to be stable and set out credible investment opportunities.
• The UK’s strategic infrastructure framework must be joined-up to enable the development of pipelines based on the UK’s wider strategic needs. This framework includes the 10-year national infrastructure strategy, integrated national transport strategy and industrial strategy.