Helping customers to understand the benefits of moving freight by rail rather than road is key to integrating rail freight into more supply chains, says the Freight Transport Association (FTA).
The Government last week released its Rail Freight Strategy, outlining the Department for Transport’s vision for continued growth despite challenges such as the decline of traditional core markets such as coal and reduced Channel Tunnel traffic due to migrant activity.
FTA said it hoped the strategy would incentivise the logistics sector and rail industry to work together and has now launched the ‘next steps’ document of its Agenda for More Freight by Rail. This has been developed with shipper members of FTA who consign more than 90% of rail freight in the UK.
Customer needs are identified in terms of cost and competitiveness, service availability and flexibility, network access and international services.
Chris MacRae, FTA’s Head of Rail Freight Policy, said: “The ‘next steps’ document looks at seven key targets identified by shippers and sets out for discussion what the barriers are to achieving these and what actions are needed to overcome them.”
The targets were endorsed by FTA’s Rail Freight integrating rail freigh Council and its British Shippers’ Council, which includes a wide range of shippers engaged in other sectors of the economy. FTA’s Rail Freight Council includes representatives across the entire rail freight supply chain including infrastructure providers, freight operating companies, logistics service providers and end customer shippers.
For more information on FTA policy work in this area or to take part in the debate or FTA Rail Freight Council contact Chris MacRae at [email protected] or by phone on 07818 450353. The Agenda for More Freight by Rail document can be seen at http://www.fta.co.uk/agenda-for-more-2016
