• Government should not cut domestic air passenger duty (APD) on flights where the journey can be made by rail in under five hours
• Cutting APD in half would see an estimated 222,000 passengers a year shift from rail to air, equivalent to over 1,000 extra flights
• Encouraging such a shift from rail to air could increase carbon emissions by an estimated 27,000 tonnes (27KtCO₂e) a year

A new app available today will make it easier and quicker for disabled people to request assistance for their train journeys, helping people to travel with confidence.

Rail Delivery Group comment on behalf of train operators about rail reforms announced by government

• As Britain faces unprecedented economic and environmental challenges, new independent research shows the value of rail freight in levelling up the nation’s economy and supporting a green recovery from Covid.
• The total economic and social benefits of rail freight are valued at £2.5bn annually with the areas benefiting most including Yorkshire, Scotland and Wales
• Rail freight is cutting Britain’s carbon footprint by preventing 7million HGV journeys per year
• A new framework shows that the value of a rail freight path can be worth up to £1.5 million each year
• Containerised goods, which include groceries, components and electronics, is the largest category of freight, with rail offering a more reliable and greener transport alternative to an increasing number of businesses.
• Rail freight moves vast quantities of aggregates and cements from quarries into cities and other conurbations playing a vital role in supporting Britain to build back better