HS2

High Speed 2 remains the biggest win for the rail freight sector, but perhaps also its biggest concern.

For DB Cargo UK Chief Executive Hans Georg-Werner the logistics are a worry. He says he has told HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Thurston (and former Rail Minister Jo Johnson) that wagons are not available, and that the capacity required is not available.

“This is only the building phase for three to five years, so nobody will invest. We must deal with what we have - for example, we are short of boxes. There are a lot of hoppers, but the density of the product means they may not be suitable.”

Werner says that HS2 wants to begin work in the summer, and he agrees that the overall contracts are too much for just one operator. He mentions that 50-70 trains per day could be needed, with uncertainty surrounding how this can be delivered. “We need drivers,” he adds.

However, he concludes: “The clear philosophy is that we must serve the existing capacity and customers. We won’t serve HS2 above others because customers will not forget how they are treated.”