Scotland has a number of heavy industrial sites – cement production for example – which
generate large demands for freight movement.
Some locations benefit from direct rail connection, offering a resilient and sustainable alternative to 100 per cent dependence on road haulage. But many have lost – or never had – their own rail sidings. However, government policy from local authorities to the European Union backs ‘modal switch’ from road freight to rail freight, with associated economic and environmental benefits.