Freight safety and growth

We will contribute to meeting the freight target of at least 75% growth by 2050.

We will focus on the simplification of complexity and the enhanced operational performance for freight, as we will also do for the wider industry. We demonstrated this in our work about moving heavier loads in freight. Our planned work on sectional running times (SRTs) shows this too.

We have also developed an interactive dashboard for freight safety. This provides up-to-date safety intelligence to the National Freight Safety Group (NFSG) and member companies.

2024-25 CommitmentsWe will:

identify how dynamic SRTs and differential speeds for freight make freight more efficient and competitive. We will support freight operators to improve journey times, reduce emissions, and encourage modal shift.

reduce overall risk for freight to enable safe growth. We will work with NFSG to address freight sector risk. We will also support the Freight Safe Steering group in managing and delivering priority risk projects from the Freight Safe Programme. This includes developing an emerging risks horizon scanning service for freight.

We will develop a data strategy for the Precursor Indicator Model for Freight Safety. This will help freight operating companies use data tools such as the Freight Condition Maintenance Decision Support Tool.

focus on maximising freight access to the network. Research on freight gauges will inform standards changes during 2024/25 and deliver greater route availability for freight traffic.

help reduce freight journey times by contributing to the update of guidance on freight service pathing.

continue research on the safe and efficient use of curtain side freight containers.