The UK freight sector recently called on the government to supercharge rail freight growth to help deliver the government’s national missions in its Plan for Change, including kickstarting economic growth and achieving net zero.
Rail Partners’ research shows the cost of UK rail freight has risen over three times faster than road haulage over the last decade. Rail freight operators want to invest in the United Kingdom to help decarbonise supply chains.
A thriving rail freight sector can support the delivery of the government’s national missions in its Plan for Change, including kickstarting economic growth, achieving net zero and building new houses, Rail Partners, which brings together independent owning groups, train and freight operating companies in the United Kingdom, said in a release.
Its ‘A Greener Track’ report, based on independent research, shows the cost of moving goods by rail has risen three times faster than road costs over the last decade, partly driven by government policy.
Market conditions have become increasingly challenging for rail freight operators and continue to present a significant barrier to growth and decarbonisation of the transport sector.
To secure rail freight growth, government can use the upcoming legislative consultation on rail reform to create a more favourable environment for operators to boost investor confidence and drive modal shift, the report recommended.
To secure rail freight growth, the widening gap between road and rail freight costs must be addressed.
The UK government has committed to setting a rail freight growth target, but concrete actions are needed to help rail freight compete with more carbon intensive modes of transport, said the report.
Rail Partners and freight operators called on government to use the upcoming legislative consultation on rail reform, expected later this month, and other policy measures, to create a framework that builds on Labour’s Getting Britain Moving document to actively champion rail freight growth.
This includes retaining existing legal protections such as long-term access rights and a stable charging regime.