On 6 September 2026, RFG Scotland and North of England Representative, Martin Bignell, will be cycling to raise money for Prostate Scotland, joining hundreds of others at Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 fundraising ride. 2026 will be the second year of the event, which Sir Chris conceived following his own diagnosis of Stage 4 […]
From decarbonisation and hydrogen to planning policy and digital innovation, RFG’s new Policy Manager outlines how she will champion rail freight as a critical driver of sustainable growth. As the new Policy Manager at Rail Freight Group, I am eager to position rail freight as an essential driver of the UK economy. With an MSc […]
When environmentalists tell us a reservoir holds “enough water to fill 400 Olympic swimming pools,” we instantly grasp the scale. When a development spans “50 football pitches,” we can visualise it. These comparisons work because they translate abstract numbers into mental images the average person can relate to. Yet when it comes to carbon emissions, […]
The rail freight sector recognises that the Scottish Budget 2026-27 has been set in a challenging fiscal environment, at a time of significant pressure on public finances and in the run-up to a Scottish Parliamentary election. Against that backdrop, we acknowledge that the Budget continues to prioritise investment in rail and transport decarbonisation more broadly. […]
Reducing carbon emissions is a growing priority for logistics businesses worldwide. As customers demand more sustainable solutions to align with their environmental commitments, the need for efficient, low-carbon transport has never been greater. Rail freight has a very important role to play in this transition, offering a cleaner, more reliable alternative to road haulage. The […]
Rail freight has long been treated as the “hidden” part of the transport system. While passengers dominate political and media debate, freight has been regarded as functional and peripheral: important, but rarely integrated into wider discussions about city growth and urban planning. This perception needs to change. The UK Government has set a target of […]
On 15 August 2025, the BBC reported that data centres are to be expanded across the UK “as concerns mount.” Nearly 500 exist now, with a further 100 in planning for the next five years, including proposals in Blyth for an AI data centre of nearly 6m sq.ft over 10 buildings. That phrase, “concerns mount”, […]
RFG’s Cross-Member Mentoring Programme continues to go from strength to strength, with 41 mentoring relationships now underway and excellent feedback from both mentors and mentees. Three months into the scheme this year, the average number of meetings is 2.68, with participants rating their sessions an impressive 8.9 out of 10. The majority of mentees (79%) […]
In 2025 the rail industry is celebrating the 200 years since the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, widely accepted as being the first public railway, charging both passengers and freight customers for its use. At the opening ceremony on 27th September 1825, passengers were allowed to ride in coal wagons, a reminder that […]
In the end, people do business with people. It’s not about companies and statistics but about personal relationships and the best way to build those relationships is by being in the same room. After the restrictions imposed during the Covid pandemic, many predicted the death of trade shows, exhibitions and face-to-face meetings. But, as employers […]
