Further electrification is vital for rail freight to decarbonise, says Rail Freight Group Director General Maggie Simpson.
“We need more investment in the overhead electrified network. Rail freight can play a significant part in decarbonising freight in the UK - particularly on trunk routes,” Simpson told a Smart Transport online seminar on April 9, on the challenges and opportunities for the freight and logistics industry over the next 30 years.
She said that the COVID-19 pandemic had “focused minds” on why freight is important, adding that rail freight today emits 76% less CO2 than road haulage.
Simpson also took the opportunity to highlight the ease of access into city centres that rail freight often enjoys: “Rail can get into city centres. Day in, day out, rail freight is getting into them, often for construction. It may not look like the sexiest operation you’ve seen - but it is fundamental.”
- For the FULL story, read RAIL 903, published on April 22, and available digitally now.
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Leon whitfield - 21/04/2020 11:30
Be fantastic if they electricfy oxford to Birmingham. Then can use freight all the way to Southampton. And if theres a crash diversions be much easier to paddington or euston
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