Received from: ASLEF
Congress reaffirms its commitment to lobby for the expansion of publicly owned rail freight with a view to re-nationalising the sector.
Congress commends ASLEF’s Rail Freight Future campaign for highlighting the role that rail freight can play in delivering the government’s missions and the need to address the current unlevel playing field between road and rail freight which encourages a race to the bottom between rail freight operators.
Congress notes the support offered by government to decarbonise road freight but understands that the most efficient mode to move freight in bulk inland is via rail and is concerned that the same level of support to decarbonise rail freight is not being offered.
Congress understands that supply chains are dependent on multiple modes of transport and that efficient and climate friendly supply chains work best with the use of different modes of transport.
Congress has concerns that the freight and logistics section of the industrial strategy focused heavily on road and not the whole sector and expects this to be addressed in the government’s upcoming plan for the sector.
Congress therefore calls on the general council to:
i. support ASLEF’s Rail Freight Future Campaign
ii. lobby the government to ensure that rail freight is part of the forthcoming freight and logistics plan
iii. call on the government to address the unlevel playing field to ensure that efficient, climate friendly supply chains are affordable
iv. lobby the government to invest in decarbonising the railways for freight by reducing the railway electric levy charge
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen