A new £25 million fund has been announced to help support rail freight services across Scotland.

Open to all industry partners, the ring-fenced funds will look to strengthen rail freight over the night five years.

Announcing the fund yesterday, 09 May, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: "This Government has a strong track record of support for rail freight which we are committed to taking forward over the next five year funding period. We know that rail freight and modal shift to rail reduces road congestion, improves air quality, and reduces emissions.

"Rail freight services are vital to sustainable economic growth across Scotland.  This fund will support the development and delivery of strategic rail freight projects which improve capacity and capability. It aims to build on and complement our existing and future investment in Scotland's railways.


"Working with Network Rail, we are also encouraging a sharper business-focus and setting challenging but achievable regulatory targets for freight in terms of average speed, performance and growth."

Partners, including Network Rail and Transport Scotland, are encouraged to table proposals for improvements which meet freight modal shift objectives. Innovative proposals which meet strategic objectives without costly infrastructure upgrades, for example wagons/locomotives or other interventions, are also welcome.

Paul McMahon, Managing director of Freight and National Passenger Operators at Network Rail, commented: "Over the next five years we've committed to working with our industry partners to get new traffic onto Scotland's rails and today's announcement is welcome. We understand that Network Rail is vital to supporting freight growth, but this will only be realised by working in partnership with the wider industry. 

"That's why, in April, we launched the Industry Plan for Freight Growth in Scotland and this will help us to achieve the ambitions set out in that plan."

The Fund will be administered by Transport Scotland and a new Scottish Rail Freight Forum will be established including members from across the industry.

(CM/JG)