Prioritizing Rail Freight: A Call to Action from Logistics UK

In the UK, Logistics UK is sounding the alarm about the crucial role of rail freight in boosting economic growth. This comes on the heels of a recent announcement from the Prime Minister regarding funding for transport initiatives in northern England.

On March 28, Ellis Shelton, Senior Policy Advisor at Logistics UK, emphasized that while passenger travel is vital for our nation, we can’t ignore how essential rail freight is to enhancing our economy and ensuring goods are transported efficiently and sustainably.

Shelton pointed out that improving infrastructure for passenger services should ideally enhance rail freight operations by increasing overall network capacity and reliability. However, it often seems like freight transport gets sidelined in these discussions. For any investment strategy to truly support economic growth,it must prioritize the needs of rail freight rather than treating them as an afterthought.

The government aims to boost rail freight by a whopping 75% by 2050. To achieve this enterprising goal,it’s critical that rail be integrated into all development plans from the get-go rather of being overlooked or considered secondary.