Last autumn saw the publication of a report which the Rail Delivery Group commissioned from WPI Economics, a research organisation which specialises in looking at major issues, such as productivity and growth and social inequality.

The report, which is available to read on our website, establishes something of which FoFNL is already well aware - the economic contribution which rail provision makes to the areas it serves and to the people who live and work there, as well as to the whole economy.

RDG issued this press release to draw attention to the report.

• Latest research reveals the value of the railways to the UK economy, the environment and society currently exceeds £26bn in benefits delivered each year
• Boosting rail use by 40% by 2035 could see this value increase to £46bn, supporting economic growth and the net zero transition
• Data shows that rail customers are essential to local communities contributing £98bn annually with their spend while travelling

New research from WPI Economics, commissioned by Rail Delivery Group, reveals the rail industry generated £26 billion in economic, environmental and social benefits to UK over the past year, with rail customers contributing £98 billion through spending within local communities.

With the rail network facilitating over three million journeys each day, its impact on the UK economy is significant, playing a key role in the productivity of our cities and towns. The industry also directly employs over 100,000 people across varying roles - from station staff and train drivers to underwater divers and seasons delivery managers.

Beyond its current contributions, the rail industry has significant potential for growth, further bolstering the UK economy. According to projections by the Railway Industry Association (RIA), rail travel is expected to grow by an average of 1.6%annually over the next three decades, driven by economic and population growth. This would be equivalent to a 20% increase in rail usage by 2035, potentially raising the industry's contribution from £26bn to £35bn.

If rail usage was to increase by 40%, driven by improved services and a growing preference for rail as a sustainable mode of transport, the total value of the rail industry could soar to £46bn, adding £20bn on top of the existing £26bn contribution. This would significantly benefit the economic, environmental and social landscape across the UK.

To make that possible and unlock the potential, it is important the rail industry continues to work together to bolster the attractiveness of rail to customers. Alongside future government investment in infrastructure, future growth also depends on action from the rail industry to improve day-to-day performance; to encourage modal shift through better integration with other modes of transport; make rail accessible to everyone; and continue to make improvements to the overall customer experience.

For every mile a person travels, passenger trains produce only around a fifth of the greenhouse gas emissions from the average petrol car. This latest research finds that a 40% growth in rail use is needed by 2035 to shift a minimum of four billion miles from car to train, to achieve the country's net zero targets in line with the Committee on Climate Change (CCC)'s preferred pathway. A shift of this scale could result in a 1.8Mt decrease in greenhouse gas emissions per year - greater than all domestic aviation emissions in 2019.

The rail network also plays a vital role in connecting people and communities across the UK. It enables almost two-thirds (64%) of people aged 16-30 and 55% of people over 30 to travel more independently, providing crucial access to jobs, education, and leisure opportunities, particularly in rural areas. Continuing to make rail more accessible will help to reduce social exclusion, improve quality of life and could result in increased rail travel, which will further unlock the network's social value benefits.