Recent rail freight figures show a positive future for rail freight for consumer goods and construction materials, which together now account for almost two-thirds of UK rail freight. The biggest issue facing rail freight is a shortage of infrastructure capacity.
The Rail Freight Group says that government should support rail freight because of the socioeconomic benefits to the UK, in recognition of the lack of parity between HGVs and rail.
HGVs are only paying for a third of the costs they impose on the economy; the HGV sector receives a £6bn subsidy each year, making it difficult for rail freight to compete.