News

The rail freight industry wants to double the amount of goods currently moved by rail in the next 30 years, and has set out its vision of the future in a newly published paper.

But critics argue that the plans will need "massive" investment from the public purse to be achieved.

According to Planning Ahead, a paper published by  Network Rail, the Rail Freight Operators' Association (RFOA) and the Association of Train Operating Companies, it aims to take millions of lorry journeys off the roads by doubling its market share of freight from 11.2% to 20% by 2039.

RFOA chairman Graham Smith says: "This vision delivers reduced carbon emissions, increases the competitiveness of British industry and will enable rail to move 20% of freight in Britain."

Transport and logistics company DB Schenker – formerly EWS – strongly supports the plan. A spokesman says 20% is a realistic target: "We are hoping it's significantly more," he adds. "We have had 60% growth in the last decade, which has taken modal shift from 7-8% to where we are now."

But a proponent of longer, heavier trucks (LHVs), Dick Denby, cautions  that to have any real credibility the rail industry needs to explain the costs: "To be taken seriously the capital cost to the tax payer has to be quantified."