Having spent much of my career working with customers that depend on rail freight, I’ve seen first-hand the difference the railway can make when it delivers a reliable and competitive service. I’ve also seen how quickly customers look elsewhere when it doesn’t. That is why rail reform matters. The creation of Great British Railways (GBR) […]
Transport Scotland’s major new report, “Connecting Scotland – The Value of Transport,” makes a compelling case for recognising transport as fundamental to economic prosperity. For the rail freight sector, the document provides valuable evidence of transport’s economic significance, though it also highlights how freight—and rail freight particularly—remains undervalued in policy discussions. The report establishes transport’s […]
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 […]
This year, Direct Rail Services (DRS) launched its ninth rail service in partnership with Tesco, a significant milestone in DRS’s long-standing relationship with the supermarket giant. Gottfried Eymer, Managing Director of Rail at DRS, talks about the special relationships with its intermodal customers and how rail freight can bring real value to supply chains. The […]
This year the UK is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, with national celebrations set to inspire a new generation of pioneering young rail talent. The rail industry has evolved enormously since the day back in 1825 when George Stephenson’s steam-powered Locomotion No1 travelled the 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington […]
Rail freight is a cornerstone of the UK’s supply chain, offering a sustainable and efficient means of moving goods. However, despite its advantages, the sector has long grappled with fragmented communication, siloed data, and operational inefficiencies. At Fargo Systems, digitalisation is key to overcoming these challenges, enhancing productivity, and driving innovation across the industry. One […]
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, announced in Parliament on 11 June the Government’s new spending priorities, nominally for the next five years. She had created significant flexibility last year for new monies, with the redefinition of the Treasury Green Book, which increased the headroom for capital spending. It also revalued how to measure […]
Consultation now, with new track access doctrine at the heart of legislative change The government launched its public consultation on 18th February, ahead of the forthcoming Railways Bill. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander made an introductory statement in the Commons on 24 February after the preceding week’s recess, while Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, the Rail […]
As my time on the Network Rail Operations Management Graduate Scheme comes to an end, I’ve had the privilege of completing my final placement with Team Railfreight. This opportunity, facilitated by the Policy and Advocacy team, has given me a deeper understanding of the rail freight industry and its crucial role in the wider transport […]
Since 2019, a group of railway staff, led by myself and Mark Bridel from Network Rail, and Kev Adlam of GB Railfreight and the voluntary Branch Line Society, have worked together and with partners including David Jenkinson and Ross Taylor from DB Cargo and many others across the Freight community, to deliver a series of […]
