Rewrite the rules, don’t rebuild the railway says UK industry leader

Published on 24-10-2023 at 07:00

Freight train passing under footbridge with sunset in background — Image: © Simon Walton.

The industry leader behind bringing the groundbreaking Class 93 tri-mode locomotive to the UK says it’s time to rewrite the rules, not time to rebuild the railway. If rail freight is to realise its potential to reinvent the British economy, the playing field must be levelled. That’s the conclusion of Karl Watts, who has headed up rail freight companies, led industry representative bodies, and currently consults to the industry. Watts has published a paper to the industry, ‘Rail freight … a path to the future’, setting out the keys to unlock the network for more freight.