Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 102
We welcome the Government’s Future of Freight Plan and the promised work to identify a...
Conclusion
We welcome the Government’s Future of Freight Plan and the promised work to identify a National Freight Network. We look forward to seeing more detail about how modal shift of freight to rail will be achieved through the IRP core pipeline in particular.
Government Response Summary
The government is working on a Long-Term Strategy for Rail including opportunities for freight, recognizing the advantages of shifting freight from road to rail and will set a long-term rail freight growth target later this year; the government partially accepts the recommendation.
Paragraph Reference:
102
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government partially accepts this recommendation. As referenced in the Plan for Rail, the Department is working with the Great British Railways Transition Team to develop the Long-Term Strategy for Rail which will include a focus on opportunities for freight. The Government fully recognises the advantages to the economy, environment and society of shifting freight from road to rail, with rail being one of the most carbon efficient ways of moving goods over long distances. This includes, for example, delivering additional capacity and increased loading gauge clearance through the Transpennine Route Upgrade which will enable substantial rail freight growth East-West across the North of England. HS2 will also free up capacity on the WCML that could be used to run more freight trains. The Secretary of State made clear in his February Bradshaw address that we cannot overstate rail freight’s untapped potential for green growth. That is why a new Strategic Freight Unit has already been created within Great British Railways, tasked with creating better safeguards and more national coordination and acting as the guiding mind for rail freight to provide strategic leadership unlock opportunities for growth. Further, the Government will, later this year set a long-term rail freight growth target which is intended to provide confidence in the industry well into the future.