The UK government on 8 September 2026 set out a plan for Great British Railways that included a target to increase rail freight by at least 40% by 2040. The Department for Transport described this as the first milestone toward an ambition of at least 75% growth by 2050. Rail freight was said to carry goods worth almost £34 billion to the UK economy each year; meeting the 2040 target could add around £15 billion.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the target was intended to give the freight industry certainty to invest. Network Rail estimated the targets could raise rail freight of construction materials by 45% and increase movement of goods such as cars, wine, white goods and medicine by around two-thirds. The government said meeting the target could save up to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year compared with moving the same goods by road.

The Railways Bill, which establishes Great British Railways, was due to begin its committee stage in the House of Lords that day. The plan would give the body strategic oversight of network access, two duties to support freight growth and a dedicated board member for freight. Network Rail chief executive Jeremy Westlake and Rail Freight Group director general Maggie Simpson welcomed the target.