Rail freight terminals are the essential interface for the transport of goods and materials around the country, providing the link between the rail network and either inter-modal routes such as road or sea, or between production and end-use locations. Whatever the type of rail freight terminal, the goods and materials need to be loaded, unloaded and often moved around within the rail freight terminal. To date, this has often used diesel-powered equipment which consequently produces harmful emissions.
REPORT
Low Carbon for the Rail Freight Estate
Supporting UK industries and the Department for Transport to deliver cleaner, greener future mobility solutions and services is a key part of Connected Places Catapult’s work.
Transporting people and goods by rail is a more environmentally friendly mode than purely by road, but there are still aspects of a rail journey that need new approaches to help achieve the overall 2050 Net Zero targets.
While the transportation of freight by rail is a relatively low-carbon mode, all sectors of transport should strive to reduce emissions to support the Net Zero targets
Henry Tse, Executive Director, New Mobility Technologies
Connected Places Catapult has explored the needs of rail freight terminals, the challenges of decarbonisation and the routes forward which the industry could adopt in order to transition towards a zero-emissions future, published in a report.
“Our proposed routes forward could help the UK to continue its world-leading approach towards decarbonisation, and cement the UK’s position at the forefront of developing and deploying innovative solutions to today’s challenges”
Henry Tse, Executive Director, New Mobility Technologies
Collectively, all stakeholders must continue working together to achieve the ambitions and opportunities that decarbonisation presents.
Through this work, Connected Places Catapult seek to connect the market, to spark innovation and accelerate commercialisation of technologies which will allow the rail freight estate to achieve a net zero future.
Further Reading & Listening
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