22.12.17
Consumer rail freight movement reaches record high
Record growth in two of the main rail freight markets has continued, according to a report published yesterday.
The Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) latest quarterly rail freight figures have revealed that construction traffic has increased by 2% compared to Q2 last year, moving 1.1 billion net tonne kilometres, which the ORR have attributed to an increased demand in materials for housing repair.
Consumer traffic rose by 1% compared to the same period last year, which is the highest volume recorded since the start of the time series in 1998-99, possibly driven by growth in the retail sector increasing demand for goods moved by rail freight.
Combined consumer and construction intermodal freight accounted for two thirds of total rail freight moved this quarter, which is considerably higher than the same quarter in 2013, where they accounted for 44% of freight.
The sector has also seen an increase in the movement of “other” and international goods, with Eurotunnel reporting record levels of cross-channel traffic during Q2.
Rail freight activity is showing some signs of recovery, with overall freight moved by rail rising by 2% last quarter; although the movement of metal, oil and coal has continued to fall, with coal traffic at a record low, moving just 0.28 billion net tonne kilometres.
Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail manager, Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Rail freight has a key role in servicing industry in a safer cleaner way which reduces road congestion and improves productivity.”
She explained that according to new research, transferring a further 2,000 lorry loads of freight to rail each day, where there is a parallel rail route, could reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions by 10% and particulates by 7% on each corridor.
She added: “HGVs account for around 21% of road transport nitrogen dioxide emissions while making up for just 5% of vehicle miles so instead of building yet more roads, priority should be given to upgrading the rail freight network to reduce air pollution, congestion and collisions.”
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