The Rail Freight Group (RFG) has released a new report, “Rail Freight in the North East,” which shines a spotlight on the region’s rail freight sector and identifies key areas for growth and development.
Launched at the RFG’s Autumn Meeting on 13 November at the Port of Middlesbrough, the report explores the current state of rail freight in the North East, emerging opportunities, and the necessary infrastructure investments to support future growth.
The report underscores the environmental and economic benefits of rail freight, highlighting that it produces 76% less CO2 than equivalent HGV journeys and contributes £2.45 billion to the UK economy annually.
Martin Bignell, the RFG’s Northern Representative, emphasised the region’s rich history of rail freight and its potential for future growth. He noted that significant investment in the North East has created new opportunities for rail freight, particularly in intermodal and other sectors.
He said: “The North East has a long and proud history of rail freight and continues to have a huge variety of freight moving by rail to and from the region. Although we have seen considerable change in the industrial landscape of the North East in recent years, significant and ongoing investment in the region has opened up new opportunities for rail in intermodal and other sectors.”
The report also highlights the importance of infrastructure investment, specifically the Transpennine Route Upgrade, in developing an efficient North East-North West rail freight axis. This would help to reduce congestion on roads like the M62.
Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General of RFG, added: “Looking forward, it is vital to support emerging opportunities as the steel-making industry restructures. The region’s ports continue to thrive as gateways to Europe and new technologies like carbon capture and sustainable fuel manufacturing become established and scales. We need to ensure that our national rail infrastructure can support these new routes and demands.”
Download Rail Freight in the North East here
