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Government’s £200m boost to decarbonise freight is “long awaited” but “most welcome”, says Logistics UK
Today, as part of a week of new initiatives launched by the government to ‘shine a light’ on the crucial importance of freight to the UK, it has announced the winners of its £200 million boost to help decarbonise the logistics sector.
The funding will be invested across four innovative green projects to roll out 370 zero emission HGVs to help set road freight on the path towards net zero.
It will also deliver 57 refuelling and electric charging sites, providing the crucial infrastructure that will help the haulage sector decarbonise and plan for the future.
“We welcome government’s recognition of how important freight is for creating new jobs, growing the economy and achieving net zero,” said Kate Jennings, Director of Policy at Logistics UK.
“It is encouraging to see it making long-awaited progress on its promises to help decarbonise our sector, including announcing the outcome of the Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure competition (ZERFD).
“However, ultimately, we need this progress to be faster, and support actioned promptly if we are to meet impending decarbonisation deadlines.
Freight Week also saw the launch of two Calls for Evidence to continue exploring new ways for the freight industry to decarbonise and become more efficient.
“We very much welcome the Call for Evidence to inform and support the development of the zero emission HGV and coach infrastructure strategy which is due to be published in 2024,” continues Ms Jennings.
“We have continued to advocate strongly to government that this infrastructure strategy receives adequate input from industry to make sure, when it is eventually rolled out, it is in the right places to serve the sector in the most efficient manner possible.
“We will continue to support our members in these discussions.”
As part of today’s announcement, the Department for Transport has also said it will review the Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant to explore how to continue helping the sector decarbonise, by shifting freight from road to rail or water through the two schemes.
“Logistics UK has been calling for a review into the Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) scheme for some time, which currently disproportionately benefits the rail sector,” continues Ms Jennings. “In fact, 2022 research indicated that 95% of the funding from this scheme had been allocated to rail freight.
“While rail provides strong opportunities for modal shift and must be supported, action must be taken to prevent disadvantaging water freight, which also brings many social and economic benefits. We look forward to inputting into this review.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns
Published On: 19/10/2023 14:30:00
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In brief
Logistics UK engages with Transport for London on Phase 2 of Direct Vision Standard
The Chief Executive of Logistics UK met with two senior officials at the Transport for London (TfL) headquarters last week to talk through Logistics UK’s policy priorities for London, which included further discussions on the implementation of Phase 2 of the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) in October 2024. This is when the scheme will be tightened up so all zero, one and two star-rated vehicles will need to be fitted with the Progressive Safe System (PSS) to be granted a permit to operate in London.
One of the continuing criticisms of the PSS requirement is the lack of understanding of how vehicle operators with equipment fitted to the current Safe System standard can clarify whether this investment can simply be added to in order to comply with the PSS, or whether it will need to be removed from the vehicle when the new equipment is fitted.
TfL senior officials agreed to investigate internally within TfL if such a system could be put in place to give vehicle operators certainty before equipment procurement decisions are taken.
This development is in addition to Logistics UK obtaining a commitment from TfL for a readiness report to be reviewed with industry in April 2024. The report will feed into the formal decision on the length of the grace period for implementation that will be finalised in June 2024.
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