News / Rail freight providers must up their game if they want to compete with UK hauliers

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Major UK shippers have called on the rail industry to improve reliability to remain competitive with a road transport industry that has focused on trimming prices to gain market share.

Justin Kirkhope, project manager of logistics strategy for UK grocery retailer Co-operative Group, told delegates at this week’s Multimodal seminar in Birmingham: “As the road industry’s marginal costs keep coming down, rail needs to keep pace. It’s critical, first and foremost, that we’re a successful business.

“Customers expect food to be on ...