Support industry in influencing policy & legislation

It is critical that the rail industry actively engages in the shaping of policy and legislation in Europe and the UK. The rail industry is an inherently sustainable form of transport, but the opportunity for rail to improve its own performance and to contribute to an integrated transport system is significantly influenced by policy and legislation.

For example, one of rail’s greatest contributions to a sustainable transport system is through modal shift, attracting passenger and freight customers from less sustainable transport modes. Yet legislation does not always encourage passenger and freight customers to use rail as their preferred mode of transport, creating conflicting and perverse incentives.

The SRP supports the industry to influence policy and legislation by keeping abreast of development in European and UK policy and legislation, ensuring the railways’ interests are lobbied, responding to consultations and developing industry positions as required. The value of formulating an industry-wide position on issues is that it enables the industry to send a clear and united message to government.

Having identified a consultation or call for evidence of relevance to the SRP, relevant stakeholders are identified and a collective decision is taken as to whether a cross industry response should be developed. If so, stakeholders work together to formulate the cross industry response.

To date, the SRP has facilitated the development of the following cross industry responses: