News / Good news and bad for UK rail freight: more funding, but higher user fees

© Berndbrueggemann

Efforts to improve the UK’s beleaguered rail network have been negated by news of higher charges for using it.

The government’s rail and road regulator twinned the announcement of an extra £24.3bn in funding over the next five years with the news of higher charges.

Freight Transport Association (FTA) director of policy Elizabeth de Jong said an opportunity to reduce emissions and offset the issues of tight road haulage capacity had been missed.

“The increased spending will improve the work of Network Rail’s System Operator, ...