Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of any scheme to encourage freight traffic to use the Channel Tunnel and HS1 rail link in order to reduce pressure on (1) the short sea crossing routes, and (2) the roads of Kent.

The Government supports the growth of the rail freight sector, both domestically and through the Channel Tunnel, and remains committed to unlocking the economic and environmental benefits rail freight can deliver through its better environmental performance and contribution to alleviating congestion on Britain’s roads.

The Mode Shift Revenue Support Scheme (MSRS) supports the carriage of freight by rail and water on routes where road haulage has a financial advantage, incentivising modal shift. In 2020/21, the Department allocated up to £20m to mode shift grants, a 28% increase in funding compared to 2019/20. These grants help to remove around 900,000 HGV journeys off the road each year.

It is ultimately a commercial decision for rail freight operators as to whether to facilitate new services, but the Government is open to engaging with industry-led proposals and potential new operators where there is a commercial proposition.