In response to the announcement made this week by the Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, on the allocation of £17 million to increase rail freight capacity between Southampton and the Midlands, Zoe McLernon, Policy Manager of Multi Modal at Logistics UK, comments:

“The government’s latest investment into rail freight infrastructure will provide a significant boost to the local economies of Southampton and the Midlands, in addition to the regions along the network. UK businesses rely on efficient, effective transport infrastructure, and this development will help to lessen the delays and congestion that can currently slow down the wheels of business. By improving the links between the busy port of Southampton with key economies in the Midlands, it will help to improve both national and international connectivity, increase capacity and provide new opportunities to attract investment into these areas.

“Rail freight has played a vital role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, transporting goods into and around the country. Logistics UK has been urging government to provide additional investment into rail freight; we welcome the rail Minister’s commitment to supporting infrastructure and train lengthening opportunities for the industry.”

Logistics UK (formerly FTA) is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.