Rail freight growth target
Increasing the amount of freight transported on the rail network by setting a rail freight growth target for 2050.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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The Department for Transport commissioned Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) to develop options for a long-term rail freight growth target.
As a result, in 2022, GBRTT launched a call for evidence to inform the design and development of the rail freight growth target.
The responses confirmed that there is significant scope to increase rail’s share of the freight market with many respondents considering rail freight growth and the rail industry’s role in meeting net zero targets important.
Following the call for evidence, GBRTT designed a programme of work to develop a credible, yet realistic rail freight growth target – including detailed forecasts and careful analysis. A summary of this work is detailed in Developing options for a rail freight growth target to 2050.
The government, after consideration of the GBRTT analysis, has established a rail freight growth target of at least 75% in freight moved.