Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what role strategic rail freight interchanges will play in delivering (1) the Clean Air Strategy's objectives, and (2) national modal shift targets from road to rail.

The Rail Freight Strategy places emphasis on the Government’s support for modal shift from road to rail due to the environmental benefits and reduced emissions achieved by rail freight relative to road. The Clean Air Strategy also recognises that rail transport is a cleaner form of transport which makes a small contribution to poor air quality when compared to road haulage. Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges (SRFIs) are important in facilitating the transfer of freight from road to rail as well as reducing the cost to users of moving freight by rail.