Guidance

Apply for grant funding to transport freight by rail and water

Explains how to access funding to transport freight by rail and water, rather than by road, and provides details of grants awarded.

Documents

Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant awards since December 2014

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Guide to Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme

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Guide to the Waterborne Freight Grant scheme

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Intermodal traffic details form (ODS version)

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Bulk traffic details form (ODS version)

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Waterborne Freight Grant financial summary table (ODS version)

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Intermodal application form (ODS version)

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Bulk and Waterways application form (ODS version)

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Waterborne Freight Grant application form (ODS version)

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Details

These guidance documents and forms should be used to apply for funding from the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme and Waterborne Freight Grant (WFG) scheme.

These environmentally beneficial schemes provide funding to supplement the additional costs incurred if companies move freight by rail or water, rather than by road.

Details of the grants awarded has also been published.

Mode Shift Revenue Support grant scheme 2020 to 2025

The MSRS scheme for 2020 to 2025 has 2 funding options for companies moving freight within the UK.

Intermodal MSRS funding

Intermodal funding is for companies transporting intermodal units by rail, such as containers, swap bodies or piggyback trailers.

Bulk and waterways MSRS funding

Bulk and waterways funding supports non-containerised freight movement by rail and freight transported by inland waterway.

Waterborne Freight Grant scheme 2020 to 2025

The WFG scheme applies to coastal and short sea shipping assisting a company for up to 3 years.

Separate guidance is available for routes which start or end in Scotland (PDF, 245 KB).

Published 22 July 2013
Last updated 6 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. Temporary grant rates for 2023 to 2024 information added.

  2. Bid round dates for 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 period added.

  3. Update to information on industrial action in regards to Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant applications.

  4. Updated application closing dates.

  5. Overview guidance document updated to reflect proposals for temporary variations to freight grant rates following the recent, and potentially further, rail strikes.

  6. Updated MSRS guidance has been published.

  7. Addition of Mode Shift Revenue Support application closing dates and forms for 2022 to 2023 and update to the awards listing January 2021 to August 2021.

  8. Updated with latest grant awards from December 2020 and January 2021.

  9. The 'background information' document has been updated with application closing dates for the financial year 2021 to 2022.

  10. The guidance has been updated to reflect the August 2020 MSRS bid round.

  11. The guidance has been updated to reflect the June 2020 MSRS bid round.

  12. Postal application option removed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

  13. Application forms updated.

  14. December 2019 awards added.

  15. August 2019 awards added.

  16. May 2019 awards added.

  17. December 2018 awards added.

  18. August 2018 grant funding amounts released.

  19. June 2018 awards announced.

  20. May 2018 awards released.

  21. Closing application dates for June 2018, May, August and December 2019 added.

  22. Grant funding for August and December 2017.

  23. Grant funding for May 2017 released.

  24. January 2017 grant funding to transport freight by rail and water.

  25. December 2016 grant funding to transport freight by rail and water.

  26. Grant funding provided to support the transportation of freight by rail and water release along with guidance for future funding.

  27. Details of grant funding provided to support the transportation of freight by rail and water in June 2016.

  28. Details of grant funding provided to support the transportation of freight by rail and water in March 2016.

  29. Details of grant funding provided to support the transportation of freight by rail and water in January 2016.

  30. 'Supplementary guidance for Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant Schemes, February 2016' published.

  31. September 2015 bid round outcome.

  32. Latest supplementary guidance for January 2016 published, alongside a link to a letter seeking views on 2 proposed administrative changes to the Mode Shift Revenue Support Scheme.

  33. Details of grant funding provided to support the transportation of freight by rail and water in June 2015.

  34. Added grant funding from the Sustainable Distribution Fund following the January 2015 bid round.

  35. December 2014 grant funding list to support the transportation of freight by rail and water released.

  36. Added supplementary guidance for the Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant Schemes, December 2014.

  37. Added 'Grant funding to support the transportation of freight by rail and water, October 2014'

  38. Added Supplementary Guidance for the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) and Waterborne Freight Grant (WFG) schemes, October 2014.

  39. Added 'Grant funding to support the transportation of freight by rail and water, June 2014'

  40. Added 'Grant funding to support the transportation of freight by rail and water, January 2014'

  41. September 2013 grant funding to transport freight by rail and water information released.

  42. Supplementary guidance Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) and Waterborne Freight Grant (WFG) schemes bid round dates, June 2013 added.

  43. First published.

  44. Grant funding to support the transportation of freight by rail and water, June 2013 added.

  45. February 2013 bid round awards added.

  46. Summary of the awards made during December 2012.