£1.3bn of Private Investment in UK Rail Industry During 2017-18

According to the Rail Finance 2017-18 Annual Statistical Release, published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), private investment in the rail industry during the period amounted to £1.3 billion, a 36.1% increase since 2016-17 and the highest figure since 2006-07. £1 billion of these funds was invested in rolling stock.

GWR 800319 © Justin Foulger (licence)

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said:

“These figures show that the private sector is ready to provide finance to improve services, ultimately benefiting passengers and freight, whilst lessening the burden on taxpayers too. We urge Network Rail and the Department for Transport to continue its work in simplifying business cases, increasing collaboration and working with the supply chain, who stand ready to finance and deliver much-needed projects on the network.”

This data is collected annually for the ORR by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The entire report is available here.