On track to a greener future or running into the buffers

The last thirty years have seen an European policy context in which rail has been favoured actively over road across the continent. As a result the volume of cargo carried by rail has increased, but road continues to be the dominant mode in a majority of European member states. Investors and developers are confused - do logistics operators want rail connected warehouses or not? Will they command a value premium or not? This paper examines the development of rail freight and its future highlighting the gradients and sidings that continue to derail anything other than glacial progress.