Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a strategy for electrifying the freight railway; and if so, whether that strategy includes the objectives of (1) reducing the level of pollutants emitted from diesel haulage, and (2) attracting additional freight to rail.

The Government’s Clean Growth Strategy calls for more use of electric, bi-mode and alternative fuel traction on the railway, and Government has set out an ambition for a cleaner, greener railway with all diesel-only trains phased out by 2040. The Minister of State has written to industry to ask them to set out an industry-wide vision for decarbonising the railway.

Government recognises the environmental benefits of shifting freight from road to rail and we are committed to supporting the long-term growth of the rail freight industry. Government’s Rail Freight Strategy, published in September 2016, sets out a shared vision for how rail freight can increase its share of the freight market, and encourage modal shift from road to rail. To support future growth of the rail freight industry the Secretary of State confirmed in October 2017 that Government intends to continue investment in improving the rail freight network in Control Period 6 (2019-2024).