18
FREIGHT
Work is well underway to increase the amount of freight transported by rail. Richard Moody, Programme Director of Freight Reform at the Great British Railways Transition Team, explains more
Growing rail freight M
oving goods by rail in the UK delivers social and economic benefits worth £2.5 billion each year. It is also better for the environment compared to HGVs, producing up to three-quarters less carbon per tonne of goods transported, with every additional freight train representing around 76 HGVs taken off roads. Despite this, rail freight accounts for just 10 per cent of surface freight moved in Britain, something that is set to change. In response to the commitment from UK Government to setting a rail freight growth target, the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) is developing a range of long-term rail freight growth target options. “It’s really important to move more freight by rail because it supports the wider transport system in terms of moving to net zero and in reducing congestion on the roads,” said Richard Moody, Programme Director of Freight Reform at GBRTT. “There are also the environmental benefits and a productivity gain for the country as well in using rail freight. “The government’s commitment to have a rail freight growth target is hugely positive and one that will feed down through organisations and lead to some positive changes in behaviour at a time when we are already seeing lots of enquiries from people that don’t yet use rail freight.” To drive forward rail freight growth, GBRTT is setting up a Strategic Freight Unit (SFU) which aims to be a guiding mind for rail freight, providing strategic leadership to unlock opportunities for growth in the sector, and with a focus on innovation. Richard spoke with Rail Director shortly before the team submitted a range of rail freight growth target
options to the government ahead of a decision on a target which is expected by the end of the year. “We’ve submitted a broad range of options from modest growth to significant growth packaged up in different ways and based on what potential policy choices are available, the investment landscape, but also market conditions as well,” said Richard. “We’re pushing for something which is ambitious, but credible. “In a broad sense if we don’t do much it is going to be far more modest growth, with this being significantly higher with legislation, a government pro-rail and wanting to grow rail freight, and looking at policy choices against other modes. “How growth is achieved across all of them is a spectrum of different options including better use of what we have overall today, investment and other policy choices or trade-offs needed to grow freight. There are also some transformative schemes like Transpennine Route Upgrade which will support rail freight growth.”
It’s really The role of rail important to move The submission to government follows a call for evidence last year to develop an understanding of more freight by rail the current state of rail freight in the UK, how much of the current and future market demand for freight because it supports could be met by rail, and the role rail can play in the nation’s supply chains. the wider transport “We had a really positive response from those who both use and don’t use rail, and various trade bodies, system in terms of with around 88 responses, with everyone supportive of having a growth target,” he said. “Having one moving to net zero leads to a change in behaviours, and we’ve had that in Scotland already where they have one. It leads to more people thinking about rail freight.
October 2023
018-020_GBRTT_RDOCT23.indd 18
11/10/2023 11:13