Unlocking the rail freight benefits of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU)

Tuesday 24th March 2026

Rail freight already plays a major role in powering the UK economy – contributing £2.45bn every year. With the right investment, rail freight has the potential to boost the UK economy by £5.2bn annually by 2050.

Growing rail freight is vital to delivering a more productive, sustainable and better-connected North.

The benefits are significant:

• Reduced congestion: One average-sized freight train can remove up to 76 lorries from our roads, while the largest trains can replace up to 129 HGVs.
• Lower carbon emissions: Shifting goods from road to rail supports the government’s ambition to grow rail freight by 75% by 2050, helping to cut emissions and improve air quality.
• Efficient supply chains: A single freight train load of steel can make 60,000 white goods or 1,000 new cars, supporting manufacturing and industry across the North.

Maximising the freight benefits of TRU

The Transpennine Route Upgrade represents an £11bn investment to transform east–west connectivity. Alongside passenger benefits, TRU includes provision for 15 additional freight paths per day, but further action is needed to ensure these paths can be used effectively.

TfN has submitted statutory advice to the Secretary of State for Transport, setting out the specific interventions needed to unlock the full freight potential of the TRU.

This advice has been developed through extensive engagement with our combined authorities and with partners across the rail freight sector.

You can read the full statutory advice submitted to the Secretary of State here:
→Statutory Advice: Unlocking the Rail Freight Benefits of the Transpennine Route Upgrade