The Rail Freight Group firms up post-pandemic policy

The Rail Freight Group firms up post-pandemic policy


The independent representative body for the industry in the U.K., the Rail Freight Group, has published its forward position on post-pandemic business affairs within the sector.

The Group has also taken a holistic view on foreign policy and trade relations after Brexit, and how freeports may or may not be the best thing for U.K. operators.

External factors in the past twelve months have significantly affected policy position at the Rail Freight Group. Global uncertainly, argues Joe O’Donnell, an RFG policy specialist, has led to the world becoming an increasingly uncertain place, affected by a raft of complex interlinked crises. He said we are not past the worst of it yet, either.

Pointing to an almost certain global recession, brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, he said the U.K. is also heading into a deterioration of diplomatic relations with both China and Russia.

The former playing an increasingly significant part in finished goods trade, and the latter an energy supplier that will not be usurped by green economy measures for some time to come. Also, the U.K. is approaching the end of the Brexit transition period with little progress towards new trade deals. There is also the small matter of the declared climate emergency, and the need to rearrange the entire economy.

Joe O’Donnell, Head of Policy for the Rail Freight Group in the U.K., said: “Relations with China are particularly prescient. The Chinese word for crisis is often composed of two characters signifying danger and opportunity, although the second character is also readily translated as ‘change point’. Will the U.K. seize the opportunity for a green recovery at this change point?”

For more information visit www.rfg.org.uk

7th September 2020