Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Rail freight growth requires stronger incentives and greater certainty within the Bill.
Conclusion
We welcome the requirement in clause 17 for the Secretary of State to set a target to increase freight on the railways and the duty in clause 18(2)b. We note that the Government is aware of the risk that GBR would not otherwise have an incentive to grow rail freight. The Bill could be strengthened to further support the ambition to increase the use of rail for freight, and to allay concerns about insufficient incentives for GBR to allow freight paths on its network and insufficient certainty for freight-using businesses to invest. (Conclusion, Paragraph 70)
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 24 April 2026. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗