On 4 October the Rail Delivery Group published its plans to improve cost efficiency and increase the volume of freight carried by 30%.
The scheme to improve UK rail efficienty by 2019 was warmly welcomed, by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) and the Rail Freight Group amongst others. The Plan priorities for the five year period from April 2014, and includes four priority schemes for rail freight: capacity upgrade of the Felixstowe to Nuneaton route, capacity upgrades from Southampton, freight capability on the West Coast north and gauge clearance of the Great Western Main Line.
The purpose of the plan is to pressurise the Government into investing in rail, when road freight bodies are already lobbying about the high duty on fuel.