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Delivering the goods Mags Simpson
Post-pandemic rail: parcels as passengers? Mags Simpson, Head of Policy Engagement at Logistics UK explains why now may be the right time for such initiatives to be introduced, and provides an overview of some of the work being carried out already in this space, and details some of the obstacles to overcome before these express freight trains can become commonplace on the network
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n February 2022 Logistics UK hosted a webinar: Rail Freight and High-Speed Logistics, which explored the role rail can play in meeting rising demand for express grade freight services in the UK. The virtual event featured expert speakers including Ed Butcher, Head of Business Development at High Speed One (HS1), Dan Fredriksson, Express Freight Development Lead at Network Rail and Sam Gillert, Account Manager at Eversholt Rail. The speakers all recognised that there is a huge opportunity to transport parcel, post and other express freight via rail on a large scale, delivering goods into city and town centres directly, but there are many challenges to overcome first. Why now? With commuter services core to Network Rail – in 2019, more than half of all rail journeys in England were for commuting – the business understands that the popularity of hybrid working, and resulting fall in these passengers, could unlock opportunities to grow rail freight movements as capacity is released across the network. Furthermore, with volumes of parcels rising, but access to town and city centres via road becoming increasingly challenging, whether its congestion on key routes, or city-imposed restrictions on HGV movement/access (such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London), use of rail city-centre terminals offers a potential solution to some of the challenges faced by urban logistics. There are also the benefits to the environment of transporting
these goods via rail over road. HS1 is exploring the concept of high-speed freight on its network. Teaming up with its sister organisation in France – SNCF – it commissioned a study from independent consultant Transport Intelligence, seeking to outline both the competitive advantage of high-speed freight and the size of the prize. The study found that the most likely target market is express parcels and the e-commerce market. More specifically, it identified bulk capacity between major cities, suggesting that a hub in Paris could use existing high-speed lines as spokes to major cities. According to its research, high speed freight would capture 25 per cent share of the existing line haul market between cities within its network, and foresees the market will be worth €2 billion Rail Professional
