The value of rail to the green economic recovery from Covid – leisure travel

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen rail usage drop to unprecedented levels. As rules are relaxed rail will be critical in providing access to work and leisure opportunities, encouraging city life to return in a sustainable way, moving critical freight and enabling an increase in domestic tourism. To illustrate the crucial part that the rail network has to play in enabling a green economic recovery from Covid we were commissioned to carry out a study of the economic, social and environmental benefits of rail by the Rail Delivery Group.

These initial findings from our work focus on the value of leisure travel by rail to the economy, and the concerns of individuals and businesses if we were to see a permanent decrease in rail usage.