Rail freight survey published by Rail Regulator and Strategic Rail Authority
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26 February 2003
The results of the second national rail freight survey are published today by the Rail Regulator and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). The survey was designed to measure perceptions of rail freight among users and potential users of the mode, and to identify barriers to growth. Commenting on the results, Tom Winsor, the Rail Regulator said: "This important survey highlights both the challenges and opportunities confronting rail, both in gaining and in sustaining its share of freight in a highly competitive environment. It will help us all to focus our efforts so as to achieve the maximum benefit for freight customers, both existing and potential, and I am grateful to those who took the opportunity to participate." The findings of the survey suggest that users expect more from rail freight as a transport mode. In overall terms, however, the freight operating companies are delivering a reasonable service with less than 20% of respondents to the survey expressing dissatisfaction. The effects of price on supply and demand represent a key finding. The report, commissioned from consultants Faber Maunsell, suggests that it is relatively easy for customers and service providers to switch from rail to road and difficult to switch from road to rail. Even a modest increase in price would prompt a majority of rail users to consider changing to road, whilst a similar increase in the price of road transport would produce a much more modest shift to rail. Respondents were divided into two major groupings - service providers and freight customers - with service providers grouped into transport operators and ports and customers divided into three categories - primary bulk, manufactured bulk and non-bulk. Rail continues to be the preferred mode for the movement of traditional bulk traffics such as coal and aggregates, with 88% of the primary bulk and 85% of the manufactured bulk shippers responding to the survey saying that they use rail. The survey also showed the opportunity for rail to increase its share of non-bulk traffic where currently 77% of non-bulk shippers said they did not use rail at all. Those non-bulk traffics that do travel by rail tend to move over longer distances, with non-bulk customers reporting that more than 60% of rail journeys were over 400 miles in length. Notes for editorsThe first rail freight survey National Survey of Rail Freight Users - Summary of Results published by the ORR and the SRA in August 2000, is available to download on the right of this page. The second Rail Freight Survey Report published by the ORR and the SRA in February 2003 is available to download on the right of this page and on the SRA website. Copies of these surveys are also available from the ORR Librarian, Sue MacSwan, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2TQ, tel: 020 7282 2001, fax: 020 7282 2045. Press enquiriesORR Press Office : 020 7282 2002/2007
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