Logistics UK welcomes Williams-Shapps review outcome

Thursday 20 May 2021

The plans outlined in the Williams-Shapps Review are essential for the future of rail freight, and the creation of a single body – Great British Railways – will help to better embed freight into decision making, according to business group Logistics UK, which represents the whole sector. 

Elizabeth de Jong, Director of Policy at Logistics UK, comments: “The creation of Great British Railways should lead to more unified decisions for freight, which has been disadvantaged by complex systems of decision making involving various different rail bodies.  

“The government’s planned ambition to promote the use of rail freight is a positive step towards putting freight services on an equal footing to passenger services. It is crucial that this ambition is delivered to enable the freight sector to grow and achieve its full potential. The industry needs a strategic vision for freight and Logistics UK hopes that the creation of Great British Railways’ national freight co-ordination team will ensure this becomes a core priority.  

“Logistics UK will now scrutinise the details of these plans and work with Great British Railways and the Department for Transport on the reform process. While some uncertainty remains over how the new body will work in practice, the rail freight sector will work together to ensure it meets the needs of logistics businesses.” 

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.