Committee warns UK set to miss 4G coverage target

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s report on the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme reveals critical issues in meeting the UK government’s 95% 4G coverage goal by December 2025. Launched in 2020, the SRN aims to improve 4G c…

UK Freight Innovation Fund encourages rail development

The UK Government has launched the latest tranche of its seed funding initiative, the Freight Innovation Fund. The initiative could encourage rail freight innovation across all sectors. The seven million pound (8.2 million euros) cross-modal cash grant is intended to help drive towards a net-zero carbon economy. UK small businesses with ideas on cross-modal logistics…

Logistics UK say rail reform bill starts a whole system approach

Last week’s introduction of the UK government’s Draft Rail Reform Bill could be the catalyst for a whole system approach. That’s the view of Logistics UK, the industry-wide business group representing members from rail, road, sea and air transport. The organisation wants to see rail freight sit at the heart of the industry. That’s an […]

UK Draft Rail Reform Bill published to mixed reaction

The 32-page draft Rail Reform Bill very much escaped, rather than launched, on Tuesday, 20 February. On what editors would call “a busy news day”, the procedural legislative launch of a pre-legislative document was somewhat shunted off the front pages. However, the placing before Parliament of a singularly significant set of proposals was eagerly scrutinised […]

Cowley branch is another project for Oxford

A little-used freight line in suburban Oxford is a step closer to being resurrected as a mixed-traffic route. The Cowley branch, which serves the car manufacturing plant of the same name, has seen the local authority, Oxford City Council, award an Infrastructure Place Study contract to Birmingham headquartered SLC Rail. The Cowley branch line was […]