Aaron Rostron-Barrett, our Head of Research Delivery, was recognised for his Outstanding Individual Contribution to freight research at the 2024 Rail Freight Group Awards.


It was Aaron’s dedication to delivering valuable insights from freight research, as well as his work to establish the first freight priority within the Rail Technical Strategy, that earned him this win.

The Rail Freight Group Awards are the premier accolades within GB’s rail freight industry. They provide a platform to recognise and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the group’s members.

Aaron’s wins

Aaron has made huge contributions to rail freight during his RSSB career. He works tirelessly to support the growth and development of the GB freight sector.

Notably:

  • Aaron has led on our trailing load limits research. The work, done with our supplier Railfreight Consulting, has redefined the relationship between coupler strength and permitted trailing load. In turn, it’s unlocked extra capacity for the rail freight industry and could save the industry over £50m per year.
  • In addition, Aaron has worked with a number of universities to overcome challenges in safely reaching freight speeds above 75 mph. Faster journeys could help encourage modal shift from road to rail for more businesses.
  • Aaron’s work with the Great British Railways Transition Team has led to the addition of the Freight Friendly priority to the Rail Technical Strategy. This addition will support the continued development of the sector, helping it meet its 75% growth goal by 2050.

Aaron’s commitment to partnership and innovation is helping the freight sector shape promising ideas into practical solutions. We hope you’ll join us in congratulating him on this exceptionally well-deserved win.

Our dedication to freight

Our Freight Research Programme, overseen by Aaron, is dedicated to finding solutions that optimise operations. It aims to:

  • retain existing customers
  • attract businesses who currently transport goods by road
  • contribute to rail decarbonisation plans.

Historically, our research encompassed both freight-specific projects and broader studies relevant to freight. Since 2020, we have intensified our direct engagement with the freight industry through groups, webinars, meetings, and surveys. These interactions have led to a research pipeline tailored to freight requirements and prioritised for implementation.

Our dedicated programme focuses on:

  • optimising network access for freight
  • increasing average and maximum freight speeds
  • enhancing the safety of freight operations and maintenance
  • promoting low carbon freight solutions.

This comprehensive approach ensures that our research is aligned with the ever-evolving needs of the freight sector.