Government sets 2040 rail-freight growth target for Great British Railways

The UK government says Great British Railways will be tasked with increasing rail freight by at least 40% by 2040, under a target announced on 8 September.

The target is described as a milestone towards an existing ambition to increase freight moved by rail by at least 75% by 2050. The government says the Railways Bill, now at committee stage in the House of Lords, would give Great British Railways powers including strategic oversight of network access and two duties supporting freight growth.

According to the release, rail freight already carries goods worth almost £34 billion a year to the UK economy. The government says meeting the new target could mean around £15 billion more goods being moved by rail each year.

Network Rail estimates the targets could increase rail freight of construction materials by 45% and raise movements of goods including cars, wine, white goods and medicine by around two-thirds, the government says.

The government also says the shift could save up to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year compared with moving the same freight by road. A dedicated Great British Railways board member would have responsibility for freight under the plans.

What this means for Wales

The target concerns goods movements across Britain, so it is relevant to Welsh businesses and road users where rail freight uses shared national networks. The announcement sets an ambition rather than a Wales-specific freight route, investment package or timetable; any practical effect in Wales would depend on later decisions about network capacity and delivery.