Rail freight

Rail freight is a more sustainable alternative to lorries, producing up to 10 times less atmospheric pollutants per mile.

It can have a major impact on reducing road traffic, as a single train can carry the equivalent of 50 lorry loads.

And it is safer than road freight: in 2005 no casualties were caused by rail freight.

Currently 40 per cent of all London deliveries to the construction industry are by rail. This figure is growing de to the increasing competitiveness of rail and the sustained construction boom in London.

Find about London's first modern rail-linked distribution park.

A realistic alternative

We want more businesses to move their goods by train. We believe this can be done by ensuring there is enough capacity on the network for freight trains and by developing the right facilities such as modern warehouses that are located next to rail links.

If goods are directly transferred to rail without the need for transfer by lorry, this would reduce costs - making rail a more attractive distribution option.

Without these warehouse facilities there is no realistic alternative to road for the distribution industry.

Our strategy

Our Rail freight strategy (PDF 1.4MB) looks at how to increase rail freight in London. It offers a series of solutions for managing passenger and freight growth over the next 10 years.

Crucially, it calls for investment in three or four rail-linked terminals around the M25.

Toolkits

Included in our strategy are two planning toolkits for London boroughs:

The Planning policy toolkit (PDF 3.47MB) is a guide for London borough planning policymakers on how to protect rail freight sites through the planning process
The Development control toolkit (PDF 2.3MB) considers all the issues on practical town planning development control and helps to move towards high quality final development.

Funding

Please note that we do not offer funding, however, the Department for Transport provides information on grants.

London's first modern rail-linked distribution park

London Rail has helped to secure approval for the first modern distribution park in London to be linked by rail.

The Howbury Park Rail Freight Terminal, near Slade Green, in Bexley, will provide between 1600 to 2600 new jobs in one of the most deprived areas of London.

This is a major contribution to tackling climate change - and significant breakthrough in how the planning system serves London's strategic rail needs.

Although freight sites already exist in the Midlands and the north of England, it has been difficult for developers to find suitable sites in and around London where they can get planning permission.

Network Rail forecasts that the rail freight market could grow by up to 800 per cent by 2015 if the planning system continues to support schemes like Howbury Park.