Smith: Government must show greater freight appreciation

Government needs a greater understanding of the needs of the rail freight market in the wake of the coal sector’s sharp decline, according to GB Railfreight Managing Director John Smith.

Addressing staff and invited guests at the naming ceremony of the final Class 66 to be built for the UK, Smith said: “The Government has hit taxation on emissions, and that has been a hard landing.”

Smith said he understood why that had been done, but added that because the coal sector was massively affected, other markets need to be considered.

“I need Government to understand the commodities and understand what we need. Unfortunately a lot of business is around London and Felixstowe, and we need more capacity.”

GBRf moves aggregates across the capital for a number of clients, while intermodal trains also cross the capital to reach Felixstowe. 

• For more on this, read RAIL 801, published today (May 25).