Utilising excess capacity on passenger trains provides an exciting opportunity to improve value for money and reduce the cost to the farepayer as well as taxpayers. Additionally, it generates environmental and societal benefits beyond the immediate logistics supply chain by increasing modal shift from road to rail.
The United Kingdom Department for Transport commissioned Arup to assess the potential market for goods to be transported by passenger trains. Our report allows the UK Government to consider the role that they can play in exploiting this opportunity to the benefit of the passenger.
Drawing on examples from East Midland Trains, Colas Rail, Bento Box and TNT, the report highlights the key lessons that have been learnt from innovation trials and proposes new operating models, highlights the role of stations, and recommends business models that could be deployed.