Railway Industry Association opens new offices in Westminster

The Railway Industry Association has opened its brand-new London offices, located in the heart of Westminster. Rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris joined HS1 Ltd chief executive Dyan Crowther and HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Thurston in opening the new offices, together with over 100 RIA members, stakeholders and other key industry figures in celebrating the move. 

The new offices, at Smith Square, will provide a central hub for RIA members to meet, attend events and network, just a short distance from the Houses of Parliament, the Department for Transport (DfT), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for International Trade (DIT). Previously RIA had been at Headfort Place, Hyde Park Corner, for 21 years.

Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Railway Industry Association, said: “We’re very excited to be launching our new office in the heart of Westminster. Our previous Headfort Place offices in Hyde Park Corner served us well for 21 years, but it is now time to move on to more modern, dynamic, premises, which are geared up for events and networking, and to better enable us to bring the rail supply industry together with policy makers and influencers, rail clients and stakeholders. Simply, it is a hub for rail suppliers to use, to connect with contacts and to enjoy!

“We’re delighted rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP, HS1 chief executive Dyan Crowther and HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston, could join us for the launch. And we look forward to this being the first of many industry events at our new home in the months and years to come!”

The Westminster location is particularly apt for one of the most vocal industry lobbying organisations working in the infrastructure sector. Never afraid to speak out on the key issues facing rail or to hold ministers and the government to task, the RIA is certainly well placed to continue doing just that from its new base in SW1.