In contrast to passenger operations, rail freight continues at a high level, with a near-normal level of services keeping industrial production and consumer goods supply chains operating.
Plans are being put in place to increase freight service capacity, with Network Rail identifying additional paths and Freight Operating Companies co-operating to make best use of drivers and equipment.
Rail-based logistics companies and terminal operators are working on extra rail trunking services to free up HGV Class I drivers for store deliveries and other essential work.
CILT is offering government and business a 'rail trunking control tower' that could be brought into operation if the HGV driver situation becomes critical.
With the disruption to Deep Sea shipping, there are wagons and containers available that could be deployed, quickly and easily, on trunking operations between manufacturing plants, ports, NDC's and RDC's.
There are also cross-docking options available using conventional rail vans that are ideally suited heavy ambient products such as canned and bottled goods.
The control tower would act as a focus and source of expertise for logisticians needing to keep product moving but facing a driver shortage.
Control tower staff would identify options available for the supply chain in question and liaise with FOC's, terminal operators and Network Rail to facilitate the introduction of additional trunking services.
These could be single-user or multi-customer as appropriate and would be targeted to free up as many HGV drivers as possible for store deliveries/ NHS support.