| Rail freight increase targets - 40% by 2040 and 75% by 2050 Posted by grahame at 16:53, 8th September 2026 |     |
A written statement from Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport
I wish to inform the House of an additional target that the government is setting for the growth of rail freight, as part of continued support for the freight sector to realise its economic and environmental benefits.
We have previously affirmed our support for the existing target of:
at least a 75% increase in freight moved by rail in net tonne kilometres by 2050
To help realise this ambition, I am now setting an additional target as a milestone towards achieving the desired growth, namely of:
at least a 40% increase in freight moved by rail in net tonne kilometres by 2040
We have previously affirmed our support for the existing target of:
at least a 75% increase in freight moved by rail in net tonne kilometres by 2050
To help realise this ambition, I am now setting an additional target as a milestone towards achieving the desired growth, namely of:
at least a 40% increase in freight moved by rail in net tonne kilometres by 2040
it goes on to say ...
This new target reflects not only our ambition for the sector, but our commitment to improving supply chain resilience, economic growth and decarbonising our logistics sector.
It is estimated that delivering the 2040 growth target will increase the value of goods moved by rail freight from £33.7 billion to £49.5 billion.
It is also estimated that meeting the target would save a million tonnes of CO2 per year compared to if the freight went by road.
It is estimated that delivering the 2040 growth target will increase the value of goods moved by rail freight from £33.7 billion to £49.5 billion.
It is also estimated that meeting the target would save a million tonnes of CO2 per year compared to if the freight went by road.
