UK Rail Freight and Emissions

Abstract

Freight transport (movement of goods and bulk cargo) plays a fundamental role in supporting supply chains both domestically and internationally. The strategic importance of the UK freight sector was signified by the inclusion of logistics workers as “key workers” during the COVID-19 pandemic [1]. International freight is also vital for the UK economy which is highly reliant on international trade; the trade-to-GDP ratio stood at 55% during the year 2021 [2]. To achieve the UK’s net zero target, the inland freight sector will need to rapidly decarbonise, including modal shift from road to rail and harnessing advances in new technology. This policy briefing note outlines the status of rail freight in the UK, considering benefits of a modal shift from road to rail. It also identifies future interventions that could decarbonise the UK’s freight sector by 2050, with benefits for health and wider society.