The contribution of rail freight
- Rail’s share of the UK’s freight movements has remained broadly stable over the last 20 years (eight per cent of total tonne kilometres), compared to a 30 per cent market share in 1960
- The movement of coal and coke currently dominates rail freight. In 2006 87 per cent of coal and coke moved by rail, compared to 53 per cent in 1980. For other commodities, road dominates: 84 per cent of the total was moved by road (this share has remained fairly constant over the last 20 years)
- Rail freight is travelling longer distances due to the increase in demand for intermodal container services (see ports section for more detail) and increased demand for imported coal. In 1980 the average length of haul was 120km, by 2004 this has increased to 206km
- Rail accounts for 22 per cent of container movements in and out of Felixstowe and 30 per cent of containers moving to and from Southampton
Source: MDS GB Freight Report 2006
Channel Tunnel
- Channel Tunnel freight services have failed to meet initial expectations. Rail freight on through services has declined by 45 per cent since 2000. In 2006 1.6 million tonnes of rail freight were carried on the Channel Tunnel
- The amount of road freight carried through the tunnel has risen by 16 per cent from 14.7 to 17 million tonnes over the last five years
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