Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on the intermodal rail freight industry of increasing the use of longer semi-trailers.

The Department for Transport began a long-term trial of longer semi-trailers (LSTs) for articulated goods vehicles in January 2012, to confirm whether their use would bring about anticipated environmental and economic benefits.

The 2017 annual report on the trial included project note E3, which specifically addressed the intermodal impacts of LST use. It concluded that where routes operating LSTs (during the trial) might have competed with rail at a limited level, rail has been able to respond effectively and integrate LST operations into its business model.

Following a consultation, a decision was taken that longer semi-trailers (LSTs) should be allowed into general circulation with light regulatory control on their use. An updated impact assessment relating to this decision was published in June 2022.