17 December 2020
RMT Press Office:
RMT responds to Freight statistics that show the rail freight sector still struggling to fully recover from Covid-19 crisis
RAIL UNION RMT today responded to The Office of Rail and Road’s quarterly rail freight statistics that show the rail freight sector making a slow recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis during the second quarter of 2020 (July to September 2020).
RMT today renewed calls for the Government to put in place a National Investment strategy to fully support the rail freight sector to boost the UK’s recovery from the Covid-19 crisis and to achieve maximum modal shift from road haulage to rail to ensure the UK leads the way in the fight against climate change.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“Rail freight is absolutely vital as the UK continues the battle against the Covid-19 and climate crises and these statistics continue to paint a worrying picture in a sector that needs much more Government support than it is currently getting.
"Rail freight will play a pivotal role in the role out of the Covid-19 vaccines and reducing our carbon emissions and as the Government make Billion pound cuts to the rail infrastructure budget in the Spending Review whilst ring-fencing the budget for new roads shows they have got their priorities completely wrong.
"It is time for the Government to put their money where their mouth is and really get behind the rail freight sector once and for all as our country simply cannot afford for them not to”
ENDS
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