Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase the volume of freight transported by rail.

The Government is committed to supporting rail freight growth, recognising its significant economic and environmental potential and its critical role in the UK’s resilience. Last year, rail freight volumes increased by 5%.

We will support future growth by placing a statutory duty on Great British Railways to promote the use of rail freight. We have also confirmed that there will be an overall target of an 75% increase in rail freight moved by 2050, alongside other targets that will be announced prior to the stand up of Great British Railways.