Responding to Shadow Secretary of State Louise Haigh’s announcement regarding the Labour Party’s proposals for rail and specifically rail freight, Maggie Simpson, RFG Director General, said: “We are pleased that the Labour Party has highlighted the huge economic potential of rail freight and is committed to measures including statutory duties for freight and long-term growth targets. Our members are working to get more goods moving by rail and we strongly welcome this support.”
Ellis Shelton, Senior Policy Advisor at business group Logistics UK, said: “Logistics UK welcomes the Labour Party’s support for rail freight and recognition of the significant contribution it makes to the UK economy and role it can play in reducing carbon emissions. We will examine the suggestions in detail, but it is important that any proposals for increasing rail freight are supported by appropriate incentives and policies, including the creation of a national freight network with rail playing a key part in it, support for the establishment of rail freight terminals, and a commitment to electrify the entire rail network.”
Also welcoming the announcement, the UK's largest maritime intermodal logistics operator, Freightliner, said: “Growing rail freight is crucial to meet our net zero and decarbonisation commitments, improve economic productivity and deliver regional growth. Therefore, the commitment to grow the size of the freight sector and ensure that the future Great British Railways has a legal duty to support growth, is particularly welcome.”
Tim Shoveller, Freightliner’s CEO, added: “Labour’s plan recognises the huge potential of rail freight and the importance of securing modal shift to help achieve our net zero targets and support economic growth. Growing rail freight volumes will require supportive policies that make rail the mode of choice for customers and we will continue to work closely with the current Government and with future Governments to ensure that we harness rail freight’s full potential.”