Freight has low expectations from Great British Railways consultations  

Will UK freight get a hearing over GBR access charges?

At Llandudno in Wales, this slate-carrying freight train aways a path. Image: © Network Rail

It may be late in the day, or premature if you remain sceptical. Either way, Network Rail is about to begin engaging with the rail industry. Throughout 2026, it is preparing charges and performance options for Great British Railways (GBR), ahead of formal consultation in 2027. For rail freight, this is not a procedural detail. Charges and performance regimes define whether paths exist, whether reliability improves, and whether growth targets are remotely achievable.

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Author: Simon Walton

Simon Walton is RailFreight's UK correspondent.

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