Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken in the last six months to make it easier for railways to replace trips made by Heavy Goods Vehicles.

Government remains committed to unlocking the benefits rail freight can deliver, including its role in supporting resilient supply chains. Working alongside Network Rail (NR) and Freight Operating Companies (FOCs), we have taken several urgent steps to increase rail freight capacity to help reduce pressure on HGV driver shortages over the last six months.

NR has recently increased the number of train paths available from Felixstowe Port by addressing level crossing risks and made additional paths available from Liverpool Port and London Gateway. NR and FOCs are currently running longer and heavier freight trains, and we are exploring with them whether there is scope to increase this to ensure that capacity is maximised, as well as increase the flow of rail freight on key routes from major ports. Work remains ongoing to secure further opportunities for this.

Furthermore, the £8.3 million upgrade of the ‘Bootle Branch’ railway line serving the Port of Liverpool was completed in September 2021. The 400-metre section of track will allow for an increase from one, to two trains, per hour in each direction.