Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support rail freight through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government has worked closely with the rail freight industry since the onset of the pandemic to provide support and assistance, particularly to support their excellent efforts to keep freight moving around our country.

At an operational level, the Government has supported Freight Operating Companies (FOCs) by supporting the work to prioritise freight in the revised rail timetable and ensuring its workforce is recognised as critical workers.

To help mitigate the impacts of lower than normal rail freight volumes, the Department has agreed temporary changes to the Mode Shift Revenue Support grant scheme by changing rates to help partially loaded trains to continue to operate. To provide immediate financial support, the Department has supported Network Rail (NR) in setting out a package of measures which include short term deferral of track access charge payments and making immediate payments to FOCs for services they provide to NR. In addition, the Government has put in place a broad package of substantial support for businesses throughout the economy, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme, helping rail freight to trade at this challenging time.

Rail freight will have a key role to play in the recovery from the crisis. We continue to work closely with the industry to support its future growth, so it can continue to deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to the UK.