FTA to highlight benefits of rail freight in Scottish workshops

Friday 29 September 2017

The benefits of using rail freight will be highlighted by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) at two rail freight commodity workshops being held in Inverness and Aberdeen this October.

The events will be promoted jointly by FTA, the UK’s leading membership association representing the logistics industry, Transport Scotland and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. They aim to shine a light on the benefits of moving freight by rail following Transport Scotland’s publication of ‘Delivering Your Goods. Benefits of Using Rail Freight’.

Attendees at the events will get the opportunity to speak directly with industry representatives, hear about rail in the domestic, deep-sea, European and worldwide logistics chain and learn in detail about how rail freight has already benefitted other companies. Chris MacRae, FTA’s Head of Rail Freight Policy, said:

“This is the perfect opportunity for companies which may have been considering using rail freight to learn more about how the rail network can move goods around the country swiftly and cost effectively, as well as hearing from other firms which have made the switch successfully.

“FTA members that have incorporated rail in their supply chain have found significant savings in money and time and of course there are environmental benefits to be considered as well. Added to this, the Scottish Government has shown a clear commitment to the future of rail freight, with policy that focuses on freight growth and a Scottish freight investment fund.

“For companies interested in taking the next step into rail, attendance at these events will provide a vital insight into how best to make the change, and help to establish valuable new working relationships.”

To find out more about the workshops, and book a place at the events, please contact:
RailFreightStrategyRefresh@transport.gov.scot

FTA represents all modes of the UK’s freight and logistics sector, with its members operating half of the UK’s lorry fleet (more than 200,000 vehicles), moving more than 90% of the UK’s rail freight and consigning 70% of the country’s visible exports by sea and air. The UK remains a leader in logistics at a global level, ranked in the top ten countries in terms of logistics performance, and the sector contributes 11% of the UK’s non-financial business economy. In 2016, 2.54 million people were employed in logistics in the UK, approximately 8% of the UK’s workforce.
 
FTA Press Office
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