RFG welcomes Northern Powerhouse Rail commitment and calls for freight to be an essential part of the project  

Rail Freight Group (RFG) has welcomed the Government’s announcement on Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), describing it as a significant opportunity to strengthen rail connectivity across the North and Midlands, provided rail freight capacity and capability are embedded in the plans from the outse

Although freight is not expected to run on new high-speed lines, released capacity across the existing network, along with the already committed Transpennine Route upgrade, will provide a transformative opportunity for businesses across the region.

The Government has announced £1.1bn over the Spending Review period to progress planning, development and design work for NPR, with a wider funding envelope of up to £45bn across the programme. The plans aim to improve passenger rail journeys between major northern city regions, including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and York, with improved services to Newcastle and Hull.

Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General, Rail Freight Group, said: “It is great to see this significant commitment to developing the railways across the North and Midlands. It is essential that the plans support the growth of rail freight, supporting new industries, infrastructure and consumers across the region.

“NPR must, however, not delay the successful completion of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will provide transformative capacity and gauge capability for rail freight.”

RFG said that improving rail connectivity across the North is not only a passenger priority, but also a critical enabler for goods movement, industrial investment and decarbonisation.

Rail freight already plays a vital role in moving construction materials, consumer goods, containers, and bulk commodities across the region, while supporting growth in emerging sectors including low-carbon energy, renewables, advanced manufacturing and new fuels. With demand for rail freight expected to grow in response to net zero policies and the expansion of new infrastructure and industrial sites, RFG said rail freight must be at the heart of the rail network in the North and Midlands.

Rail Freight Group will continue to engage with Government, Network Rail and Great British Railways to ensure the NPR and TRU programmes deliver a railway that supports national growth, reduces congestion on the road network, and contributes to lower-carbon logistics across the North and Midlands.