The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the voice of the UK rail supply community, today announces the appointment of Simon Scott as its new Technical & Innovation Director. Scott is a highly experienced senior leader within the UK railway industry, and joins RIA to lead its technical and innovation agenda at a pivotal time, as the sector prepares for the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR).

Scott brings a wealth of leadership experience and technical expertise to the role, having spent more than three decades developing technology strategies and championing systems thinking across the rail sector. His career spans both public sector organisations and the commercial supply chain, giving him a unique perspective on the priorities, opportunities, and challenges facing the industry.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), commented: “Simon Scott is a well-known and respected operator in the UK railway industry and joins RIA at a hugely important moment for the railway, as the industry prepares for the transition to GBR and seeks to deliver a more efficient, customer-focused and sustainable network. He brings a combination of deep technical expertise and extensive experience across both client and supplier communities. His knowledge of innovation, systems integration, digital technologies and industry transformation will be invaluable as we work with our members and partners to help shape the future railway. We are delighted to welcome Simon to the team!”

Simon Scott, RIA Technical & Innovation Director, said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining RIA at such a transformative moment for the UK railway. Having worked across the industry for many years, I know first-hand how vital the supply chain is to the railway’s success, sustainability and efficiency. I have also seen the value that RIA brings through its advocacy and its role in championing a stronger, more dynamic supply sector, having been a member of the Association myself for many years. I am now looking forward to working closely with our 480-plus members, as well as government partners and client organisations to help strengthen the industry’s technical maturity, accelerate the adoption of innovation, including data and AI, and ensure that suppliers have a powerful, unified technical voice in shaping GBR as it develops in the months and years ahead.”

• Simon Scott’s career in rail spans some 35 years and includes roles with a number of the industry’s most recognised public and private sector railway related organisations, including British Rail, Cubic Transportation Systems, Metronet Rail, Atkins, Ricardo, Amey, Network Rail, PA Consulting, East West Railway, and Fujitsu.
• In his role as RIA’s Technical & Innovation Director at RIA, Scott will lead the Association’s technical and innovation capability, working closely with member companies, the UK and devolved Governments, the ORR, Network Rail, the RSSB, and many other stakeholders. He will help shape and advance the railway industry’s technical vision, building on the industry’s Rail Technical Strategy and supporting the development of GBR’s long-term technical vision, and work with GBRX, which seeks to advance the adoption of innovative technology across track and train.
• Scott will also lead major initiatives focused on improving cost efficiency, signalling, and electrification, will oversee RIA’s Data & AI work, champion enhanced customer (passenger and freight) services, support integrated transport initiatives, and will drive forward flagship programmes such as the cross-sector

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