Huw Merriman, the rail minister in the United Kingdom, chose to thank the industry with his address to members and guests at the December meeting of the Rail Freight Group. The UK representative body was meeting in London, for its annual December lunch. The minister’s main message was one of thanks to everyone for what he called all of the outstanding work carried out in a very challenging environment. The audience present at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, on the edge of Hyde Park, included rail freight operators, customers, logistics companies, ports, and support and supply chain representatives.
Speaking to the rail freight community at large, rail minister Huw Merriman reviewed 2023 as a year that has not been easy for the industry. He said that had been the case across the entire rail industry, while not ignoring the overall economic situation in the UK. Rail freight sector ingenuity and hard work had kept freight flowing, said the minister, who also expressed confidence in rail freight to build forwards towards a thriving and exciting and greener future.
Superb to meet freight operators at their terminals
In a year that has seen the railway headlines dominated by disputes and disruption, Huw Merriman found much solace in the freight side of operations. The rail minister is now just over a year into his ministerial post, and cannot be accused of retreating to his Westminster office. “I have had the honour of the summer of travelling around the railways to see what goes on both passenger and freight”, he said. “It has been absolutely superb to have the opportunity to meet freight operators at their terminals. Whether that is [meeting chief executive Andrea Rossi of] DB cargo at Toton; Freightliner at Southhampton where Tim [Shoveller – the new chief executive] allowed me to drive a train. I know that the Secretary of State [for transport – Mark Harper] enjoyed opening the GB Railfreight facility at Peterborough with thanks to John [Smith] and his team there. I have seen initiatives at freight operators, that companies are putting in to be sure that carbon is reduced. I have seen the work that Industry partners have done to reduce emissions and improve air quality and biodiversity. I have said this before, and you have all said this as well, that freight belongs on the rail.”
The prime minister, Richi Sunak, has not made life easy for his rail minister, whose portfolio includes HS2, about which Merriman touched on. However, rather than five pledges, which have categorised Sunak’s year, Huw Merriman chose to highlight five freight innovations in 2023: “I just want to mention at five organisations that have done things in a novel way this year. There are of course others. First, the Port of Southampton who have worked very hard towards modal shift. Maritime Transport who have expanded East Midlands Gateway and taken on new terminals. VTG, who have invested in digital wagons for better transport and safety. Then, iPortRail, were they have [deployed] the RailX app, which has helped smaller businesses on to rail, which is superb for a new entrants into the market. Fifth, there is Nestlé, who trialled their innovative containers with lifting roofs. It is really important that we talk up the innovation that goes on within the industry because that is what encourages all the other customers who should be on rail to get on rail.”
Rail freight delivers so much capacity, potential, innovation
Merriman touched on the growth target for rail freight. The document was delivered in the week before Christmas, and has drawn wide comment from the industry at large. “What is really important it is that we actually set a stringent, stretching target, so that everyone else delivers for freight”, he said. “It matters for efficiency, productivity and investment. It also helps us when we are asking for investment within government. To ensure that we get that investment we have to deliver to that freight growth target, as will Network Rail, as will everybody else. So it is not just a number. It is actually delivering a point where everybody will have to change their policies from not just talking about freight, but they actually deliver more freight [on rail]. I am determined that we will work hard with the GBRTT [Great British Railway Transition Team] to deliver it.”
Merriman concluded the address, and the year , with a reaffirmation of commitment within government. “I want you to all know that inside the Department for Transport, rail freight matters”, he said in summing up. “We are not just passionate about it for what you do for the environment, though of course that matters. We see you for this – and so much capacity, potential, innovation. For the things you do, we actually need to allow you the room to do them [over and above] the passenger capacity. We also want to give you the capacity where your innovation can actually transfer over to the way in which we run passenger services [as well]. Your passion, your determination, your constant challenge and push to me and the officials matters, so that we can deliver more for you as well. In the coming year I look forward to working with you more, partnering up with you, and delivering even more for rail freight.”
