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Rail Freight Growth
08 September 2026
Lead MP
Heidi Alexander
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Economy
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Heidi Alexander raised concerns about rail freight growth in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Government is setting an additional target for the growth of rail freight, aiming for at least a 40% increase in freight moved by rail in net tonne kilometres by 2040. This includes an increase of 65% in High Value Goods, 45% in Construction Goods, and 7% in Critical Goods. The Railways Bill will provide statutory status for these targets, ensuring rail freight's role in economic growth and decarbonisation.
Heidi Alexander
Lab
Lewisham East
Heidi Alexander proposes an additional target for rail freight growth, aiming for a 40% increase by 2040, which includes 65%, 45%, and 7% increases in High Value Goods, Construction Goods, and Critical Goods, respectively. This new target is expected to increase the value of goods moved by rail from £33.7bn to £49.5bn and save a million tonnes of CO₂ per year.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.