RFG meets Scottish Transport Secretary to discuss rail freight growth and Net Zero opportunities

As part of RFG’s ongoing political engagement in Scotland, Maggie Simpson and Martin Bignell met with Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, at the Scottish Parliament on 3 June. The meeting followed RFG’s Private Round Table with MSPs in March and Martin Bignell’s contribution to the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee evidence session in April.

During a 45-minute discussion, RFG updated the Cabinet Secretary on the latest developments in Scottish rail freight. The Cabinet Secretary expressed a strong interest in understanding how the Scottish Government could support further growth, particularly around the role of rail freight in boosting Scottish exports. RFG highlighted the significant private investment being made in rail terminals across the country and the strength of industry collaboration around shared growth goals. The Cabinet Secretary noted the recent allocation of a single-year Freight Facilities Grant budget, acknowledging it as a modest but positive step.

The conversation also revisited key themes from RFG’s earlier engagement with MSPs, particularly the need to align industrial, land-use, and transport planning policies to maximise the long-term potential of rail freight. RFG emphasised that such coordination is essential to support major infrastructure projects and the movement of goods related to Scotland’s green energy ambitions, including hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, and carbon capture.

The Cabinet Secretary spoke of her commitment to growing the green economy, pointing to planned investments in key locations such as Aberdeen, Grangemouth, and Hunterston. She also outlined preparations for the shift to zero-emission road freight and the implications of the planned 2040 ban on diesel HGV sales. RFG underlined the opportunity this presents for rail freight, especially given Scotland’s reliance on long supply chains, and its compatibility with regional and urban distribution using zero-emission HGVs from rail-connected hubs.

The discussion also covered the importance of the West Coast and East Coast Main Lines for Scotland’s connectivity. RFG stressed the need for the Scottish Government to be actively engaged in cross-border planning, particularly as decisions made in England have significant implications for Scottish rail freight.

To conclude, Maggie Simpson outlined RFG’s engagement with the Westminster Rail Reform Bill. She outlined RFG’s concerns regarding unresolved issues—particularly around network access, charging frameworks, and the need for independent oversight to ensure long-term confidence for freight operators and investors.  The Cabinet Secretary noted this, and said that Scottish Government continues to have discussions on how rail reform will affect the railways in Scotland, and protect the existing frameworks and settlements.