A publication by the Rail Delivery Group and referred to on Network Rail’s website points to an increased demand for freight on rail over the past few years – perhaps unsurprising in view of the growing attention devoted to our impact on the environment.
Always a useful read: Freight on Rail
www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/rail-freight-and-the-impact-of-investment
Demand for Britain’s rail freight is rising.
This network for transporting essential goods, from clothing to construction materials, is crucial to the country’s productivity and continues to generate billions of pounds of economic benefits.
A report published by Rail Delivery Group, Rail Freight: Working for Britain, outlines the significant improvements made to the network in recent years. It says the rail freight network created more than £1.7bn of economic benefits to the country in 2016.
The figure comprises almost £1.2bn of productivity gains for businesses using rail freight instead of the roads, and more than £500m of benefits by cutting road congestion, road accidents, carbon emissions and improving the quality of air.