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Rail emerges from the shadow of COVID-19
Rail operators have been working tirelessly to re-establish the industry’s path for passenger and freight services in recent years, determined to emerge from the long shadow of the pandemic.
While the past few years have seen the industry face its fair share of challenges – including a significant fall in demand for passenger journeys and widespread disagreements over job security and pay and conditions for workers – there have been plenty of reasons to celebrate too.
ROLLING TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
While rail has long been viewed as the most sustainable of the transport modes, the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled the rail industry to start making plans for an even greener future, creating the opportunity for further improvement for the benefit of both passengers and rail workers. Examples include smart ticketing through mobile apps. These provide rail service notifications including delays and cancellations on the network and will improve safety with real-time communication. The lack of trains running during and after the pandemic highlighted how the railways must change for the better, including the provision of a modern passenger experience, new opportunities for freight operators, innovators and suppliers, and improvements to railway infrastructure.
INVESTING IN ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure improvements for rail are a priority across the next 12 months, such as the proposal to upgrade the railway in the Ely area, as well as track electrification, as only 38% of Britain’s rail network is currently electrified. Rail freight played a vital role throughout the pandemic, ensuring that food and critical supplies, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), got to where they needed to go.
“The government recognised how integral rail freight is to the prosperity of the UK and resilience of our supply chains during the pandemic,” said Alexandra Herdman, Senior Policy Manager, Logistics UK, “Looking ahead, this growing shift to rail from other transport modes is expected to continue, creating environmental and operational benefits as well as playing a vital role in the nation’s economic recovery moving forward. However, the sector needs certainty and so it is vital that changes in government and/or postponed policies do not delay further rail freight growth.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/rail
Published On: 12/01/2023 16:00:12
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