Ep.18 Support to export, Neil Walker

On this week’s episode of RTM’s Track Talk, host Ailsa Cowen is joined by Neil Walker, Exports Director at the Railway Industry Association. Neil talks about InnoTrans 2021, how he and his team support UK rail companies when it comes to exporting and why rail is such a vibrant sector. 

Neil tells us about his role at RIA, where he helps members export all around the world by working alongside the Department for Transport and the Department for International Trade. 

He also tells us about RIA’s recent joining of Reshoring UK and how it will, “support RIA members who are looking to fill gaps in their supply chain.” 

RIA have held numerous webinars over the past few months, where rail the industry from Estonia to Denmark to Poland have been able to discuss their recent innovations. 

He also spoke about InnoTrans being cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but looking ahead to the exciting event in Berlin next year, “for 2021, RIA will have two pavilions, and currently we have 19 countries represented across those pavilions.” 

Neil also discussed where he’d like to see the industry in 10 years’ time, and how he hopes the UK’s list of exporters continues to grow.