The Scottish Government’s decision to set targets for rail freight growth has helped change behaviours and mindsets, says Bill Reeve, Director of Rail, Transport Scotland. He told delegates to the annual RFG Scotland Conference on 29 March 2023 that the Government and private sector working closely together was helping drive innovation and that there were […]
Rail Freight Group (RFG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Bignell as its new Scottish and Northern Representative. Martin will play a key role in developing the RFG’s strategy for the regions, working with RFG members, key stakeholders and regional bodies across Scotland and the North of England. He has a background in […]
The themes of decarbonisation and innovation were evident during this year’s RFG Scottish Conference, with all the presenters emphasizing a strong positive outlook for rail freight in the years ahead. The event was held online on 24 March. In his keynote speech, Michael Matheson, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, praised the industry’s “heroic efforts” in […]
By David Spaven, Principal of Deltix Transport Consulting. When you’ve spent your working life in and around the rail freight industry, it can be hard to stand back and see the bigger picture. But nine months after retiring as RFG’s Scottish Rep, I thought it was time to put pen to paper, highlighting some key […]
Transport for Scotland has published its Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan. The plan focuses on decarbonising transport through modal shift to rail, and decarbonising rail traction energy through the removal of diesel passenger trains from the Scottish network by 2035. Transport for Scotland will seek to maximise all opportunities for modal shift to rail from […]
The annual RFG Scottish Conference, held in March in North Berwick, examined rail freight developments in Scotland, including challenges and opportunities. Our Scotland representative, David Spaven, gave an update on RFG’s activities in Scotland and emphasised the importance of land as a resource for new terminals. He explained how the Land Strategy sub-group has reviewed […]
RFG has joined transport campaigners in criticising the Scottish Government for failing to deliver on a promise made 10 years ago by the then First Minister to slash train journey times from Inverness to Edinburgh and Glasgow. To mark the 10th anniversary of the public commitment to cut 35 minutes from the average journey time […]
RFG’s Scottish Representative David Spaven has responded to the Scottish rail infrastructure strategy 2019. Click the link below to download the response in full. Scottish Rail Infrastructure Strategy 2019
