Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 10 November (HL3612), what additional schemes they are establishing to support rail freight to counteract the shortage of HGV drivers.

Pursuant to the answer of 16/11/2021 to question HL3612 “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken in the last six months to make it easier for railways to replace trips made by Heavy Goods Vehicles”: Government continues to work closely with Network Rail (NR) and the rail freight industry to maximise the sectors role in supporting resilient supply chains. The Government will continue to explore the potential to increase freight capacity and capability on the rail network and is supportive of modal shift of freight from road to rail wherever possible.

We will continue to manage NR delivered rail enhancements, including freight schemes, within the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP).