“A massive timetabling change is being implemented on the rail network over the next two years by Network Rail, which will see 4,702 allocated freight paths per week be relinquished to free up capacity for passenger services. The infrastructure owner says that the vacant paths – slots freight trains have on the railway and in the timetable – can now be used by operators to run additional services or re-time existing services to create a more reliable, less congested railway.
“The changes are being implemented after NR, working with the freight industry over two years, identified 50% of reserved slots on the railway for freight were not being used and could be turned over for use by passenger trains. It also follows the Rail Freight Group last year warning the government that freight should not be neglected when implementing reforms after changes announced by transport secretary Chris Grayling included bringing infrastructure management under the remit of TOCs in future franchises.
“The spare capacity can allegedly be put down to the decline in coal, iron and steel traffic, as well as advances with engineering that have ensured freight operations are run with longer and fuller trains…”