New rail freight report card for UK

The cost of rail freight has risen over three times faster than road haulage over the last decade. That’s put the sector under even greater pressure, despite environmental benefits. The findings come in a report compiled for the industry’s Rail Partners. The lobby group claims to represent more than 99% of the UK industry.

The freight sector today (Wednesday 22 January) called on the UK government to “supercharge” rail freight growth. According to the report, rail freight operators are eager to invest in the UK and to help decarbonise supply chains. The report says a thriving rail freight sector can support the delivery of the UK government’s policy, including kickstarting economic growth, achieving net zero and building new houses.

Costs must be addressed

New analysis, commissioned by Rail Partners in its report “A Greener Track”, shows that market conditions have become increasingly challenging for rail freight operators. The cost of moving goods by rail has risen over three times faster than by road in the last decade. This, says the report, has partly been driven by government policy. On the other hand, the road haulage sector may argue that their service has become more affordable, therefore widening the gap between the two modes.

That is acknowledged in the report. “To secure rail freight growth, the widening gap between road and rai…