By 2040, the government wants a 40% increase in goods moved by rail freight, transport minister Heidi Alexander has told the Commons.
Rail freight is considered to be a key part of decarbonising Britain’s transport system. A single train can replace up to 129 heavy goods vehicles, helping to cut down on road congestion. While a tonne of freight moved by rail produces about a quarter of the carbon emissions it does by road. But despite its environmental benefits, it is estimated that rail freight only accounts for around 10% of surface freight across the UK today.
The government had previously set a target of boosting rail freight by 75% by 2050 from 2022/2023 baseline traffic levels, but has now set an interim target of 40% by 2040.
Goods carried by rail freight are already worth almost £34bn each year to the UK’s economy. Meeting the new target would increase this figure by around £15bn, which the Department for Transport said would strengthen supply chains and support business growth...