Podcast highlights: Season 2, Episode 13
The conversation was rich with insights on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The critical role of collaboration and innovation in driving progress was also discussed. Andrea began by outlining the three key priorities for the rail freight sector in 2025.
The first priority is the relentless pursuit of safe operations. Safety is non-negotiable, he said, and continuous improvement in this area is essential for maintaining customer trust and business viability.
The second priority is pushing for modal shift. The UK lags behind other European countries in terms of rail’s share of freight transport, and there’s a pressing need to increase this share to meet growth targets.
The third priority is navigating rail reform. Ensuring that the rights and protections currently enjoyed by the industry are maintained during the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR) is crucial.
Collaboration and innovation: The path to safety and growth
Andrea then stressed the importance of collaboration in achieving safety goals. Despite the competitive nature of the rail freight industry, companies do come together to share best practices and learn from each other.
A notable example of this collaboration is the Wagon Condition Programme. Andrea told us that this has been praised by the Office of Rail and Road as one of the best examples of industry collaboration in the past decade.
On the topic of modal shift, he highlighted the need to reduce the cost gap between road and rail transport. Rail freight track access costs have risen significantly, while road charges have fallen. This has created a widening gap that the industry must address. The focus is on creating conditions that will allow rail freight to grow its market share and meet government targets.
A bright outlook for rail freight
Looking ahead, Andrea is optimistic about the future of rail freight. The sector’s value to the economy, environment, and society is increasingly recognised. This is especially the case in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, economic realities often dictate customer behaviour, and the industry must tackle cost challenges to succeed. The government’s rail freight growth target of 75% by 2050 should be seen as a floor, not a ceiling, and the industry is committed to achieving and surpassing this goal.
As a member of the RSSB Board, Andrea also spoke about the support and guidance that we offer to rail freight businesses. For example, our independence allows us to run valuable research that benefits the industry. This research covers areas such as:
- safety
- health and wellbeing
- sustainability.
The Freight Research Programme, in particular, has led to many benefits. These include improved sectional running time values and increased train payloads.
Andrea concluded the episode by highlighting an often-overlooked strength of rail freight: its ability to replace a significant number of heavy goods vehicles. One rail freight train can replace 129 heavy goods vehicles. This translates into substantial environmental and logistical benefits.
Key takeaways
- Safety is the top priority for the rail freight sector.
- Increasing rail’s share of freight transport is essential for meeting growth targets.
- Collaboration and innovation are key to achieving safety and growth.
- Addressing cost challenges is crucial for the future success of rail freight.
- RSSB provides valuable support through research and guidance.
- Rail freight has significant environmental and logistical advantages.
