The rail freight industry is keen to keep growing
However, track access owing to a busy passenger rail network, infrastructure constraints and uncertainty over rail reform and Great British Railways, is proving challenging. As with many industries, inflationary pressures are also hitting the sector, with rail freight affected by the rising costs of fuel and network access.
So, how can it move forward and be a competitive alternative to the road haulage industry? One thing that would help is to electrify more of the UK’s rail network.
What has gone wrong?
The advance of railway electrification in the UK has been slow and quite stop-start in nature, with currently around 38% of the country’s rail network electrified. It is thought that this is because rail electrification has not been a policy priority for successive governments, coupled with high upfront capital cost. Although some projects like the Wigan to Bolton line and parts of the Midland Mainline have progressed in recent years.
For comparison, the average across the EU is 56.1% with Belgium at 86%, the Netherlands around 75%, Italy 72%, France 59%, and Germany 53%.
What benefits are there to the UK electrifying rail freight lines?
Rail electrification is key to keep the cost of transporting goods by rail down, owing to fluctuating diesel costs, leading to instability in the sector.
As well as this, electrification offers the chance for a higher frequency of freight trains in operation due to greater acceleration opportunities, the enabling of faster and longer trains to run on the network, and improved reliability.
Electrification offers significant environmental advantages for rail freight. Beyond the well-documented reduction in carbon emissions, it also plays a critical role in mitigating noise and air pollution. Unlike traditional diesel locomotives, electric trains operate with a significantly lower noise profile, minimising disturbance to communities living near rail lines. Furthermore, the absence of combustion eliminates the release of harmful air pollutants, contributing to cleaner air quality. That being said, an average diesel-hauled freight service produces 76% less co2 per tonne than its road transport equivalent.
A rail electrification strategy would bring significant political benefits, particularly in terms of regional economic development. More rail freight capacity would help to boost economic growth, particularly outside London and the South East, through both new employment opportunities within the logistics and transportation sectors and the reduction in congestion on the roads. Currently, 90% of the benefits of rail freight are felt outside of London and the South East.
How much can the UK electrify?
Electric-hauled trains have been around for almost as long as the rail network itself, with the first demonstration of the concept taking place in 1841.
But progress electrifying the railways has been slow, owing to concerns over the years around third-rail safety, competing electrification systems and the lack of a strong mandate to electrify lines from government or private rail operators.
Electrification of rail lines was projected under the previous government to reach 51%, with projects like the TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) in the pipeline.
A Railway Industry Association (RIA) strategy document published in April last year indicated that a further 15% of the network could be electrified by 2050 in a coordinated, economical, and sustainable fashion.
Prioritising the electrification of rail lines used by freight would significantly bolster the industry’s confidence and sustainability. For example, continuous electrification on East West Rail would enable eclectic-hauled freight to run from the Great Western main line to the West Coast main line. Through enhancing the environmental advantages of rail freight over road haulage, we can solidify its position as the more eco-conscious choice for transporting goods and strengthen its long-term viability.
How should the government deliver rail electrification?
Simply put, we need legislation and leadership to come from government to speed up the electrification process. This legislation should run parallel with increased funding for electrification, provide a rolling program of electrification works, and reduce planning and regulatory barriers.
Although less of a “showstopper” than major projects like HS2 or the Elizabeth Line, electrifying the rail network will boost economic growth and reduce carbon emissions.
If this can be done alongside the building of new rail lines and infrastructure enhancements across the network, we can make sure that Britain has a rail network that will help it meet the challenges of the 21st century, environmentally and economically.