The Rail Freight Group, which represents the industry in the UK, has heard that Scotland’s potential for growth could benefit the UK as a whole. Despite that good economic outlook, the Scottish government has decided to suspend its Modal Shift Revenue Support scheme due to a strained budget. That, however, may not be the death-knell…
Category: Rail Freight Group
West Coast drives Scotland’s huge potential for rail freight growth
The Rail Freight Group, which represents the industry in the UK, has heard that Scotland’s potential for growth could benefit the UK as a whole. Despite that good economic outlook, the Scottish government has decided to suspend its Modal Shift Revenue Support scheme due to a strained budget. That, however, may not be the death-knell…
Scottish rail freight champion but money too tight to mention
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport at the Scottish Government, has spent a week in consultation with the rail freight industry. The minister’s multiple appearances included addressing assemblies in Glasgow at a rail industry seminar and at less fashionable Grangemouth. Keynote speeches delivered a message of support to the rail freight sector. She also delivered […]
Scottish meeting has politics on the agenda for Rail Freight Group
This week, the rail freight industry in Scotland has the opportunity to air their views in the presence of the senior minister from the Scottish Government. The Rail Freight Group Scottish Conference will be addressed by Fiona Hyslop, the Transport Secretary at Holyrood. Secretary Hyslop will be laying out her vision for the industry as […]
UK Draft Rail Reform Bill published to mixed reaction
The 32-page draft Rail Reform Bill very much escaped, rather than launched, on Tuesday, 20 February. On what editors would call “a busy news day”, the procedural legislative launch of a pre-legislative document was somewhat shunted off the front pages. However, the placing before Parliament of a singularly significant set of proposals was eagerly scrutinised […]
Freight constrained by HS2 cutback, say industry chiefs
Tim Shoveller, chief executive of Freightliner, has issued a warning. He says HS2 will add to congestion, and not solve it. The cutback version of the high-speed rail network will actually add traffic to the West Coast Main Line. That railway is already the busiest mixed-traffic route in Europe. The abandonment of the Birmingham and […]
HS2 materials by rail target reached and doubled says Minister Merriman
Huw Merriman, the UK minister for rail, whose portfolio also oversees the HS2 high-speed rail project, says construction is on target in one important metric. The HS2 materials by rail strategy remains at the heart of reducing carbon and creating jobs and opportunities. That strategy included the target of moving ten million tonnes of aggregate […]
Manchester needs more rail freight to move construction materials
A new report sets out the economic and environmental case for more rail freight into Greater Manchester. The metropolitan area around Manchester is experiencing a significant construction boom, and the vital part played by rail freight has been recognised in a joint report from the Mineral Products Association (MPA) and the Rail Freight Group (RFG), […]
UK Rail Minister thanks the freight sector for a year of outstanding work
Huw Merriman, the rail minister in the United Kingdom, chose to thank the industry with his address to members and guests at the December meeting of the Rail Freight Group. The UK representative body was meeting in London, for its annual December lunch. The minister’s main message was one of thanks to everyone for what […]