Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges he plans to create.

Government supports the development of a network of Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges (SRFIs) and associated infrastructure. SRFIs are key to enabling the efficient transportation of goods around the country and reducing cost to customers. Such infrastructure also broadens the reach of the rail freight industry, allowing it to tap into new regions and markets, facilitating growth and importantly allowing the industry to be more competitive when compared to road haulage.

The policy position is set out in the National Networks’ National Policy Statement (NN-NPS) and more generally in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The NN-NPS does not specify where SRFIs should be located. Applications are considered on a case by case basis and the onus is therefore on private sector developers to bring forward proposals if they are deemed to be operationally and commercially viable.