18/09/2008

£15m Allocated For Strategic Rail Research

An additional allocation of £15 million has been announced for a new strategic research programme to be managed by Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).

The funding, from the Department for Department (DfT) will offer a substantial boost to the rail industry’s research and development, which is additional to the current research programme, also managed by RSSB and DfT-funded.

The new Strategic Research Programme will help the industry achieve the challenging long term goals set out in last year's Rail Technical Strategy in the delivery of 'step changes' on the rail network over the next 30 years.

Speaking at the launch of the programme today, Rail Minister, Tom Harris MP said: "I am pleased to be able to announce a new strategy research programme, including £15m of Government funding.

"This programme will help the industry achieve the challenging long term goals set out in the White Paper, such as doubling rail capacity and further reducing the carbon footprint of rail transport in a safe and cost-effective way."

Research projects are due to start in spring 2009, and the programme itself will run for five and a half years.

Before that, RSSB will work with DfT and the industry on 'route-mapping' - paving the way for an industrial vision of what fulfilling the rail technical Strategy means, and how the new research programme can support it.

RSSB's Director of Policy, Research and Risk, Anson Jack said: "RSSB is established as the rail industry’s own research body and welcomes this vote of confidence and the commitment in the industry's future research needs.

"We look forward to working with our members, the industry and the Department for Transport to make the Rail Technical Strategy a reality."

(JM)

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