A NEW report from Network Rail and industry partners is predicting that the number of rail passengers and freight volumes are set to double in the next 25 years.

The report, 'Planning ahead', suggests that although the number of commuters in the south east will rise by as much as 40 per cent, passenger carryings are likely to double in key provincial cities.

Freight is also expected to grow, from 11.5 per cent of market share today to 20 per cent by 2035. One reason, the report suggests, is that the environmental importance of rail will grow, and another will be a continuing rise in road congestion.

Network Rail, ATOC and the Rail Freight Operators' Association have combined to produce the report, which says that 'Britain’s railway already makes a hugely significant contribution to national economic wellbeing. The industry’s ambition over the next 25 years is to increase its contribution to sustainable economic growth still further'.

However, the report acknowledges that better value for money is a priority, and says that this will mean change, with more co-operation on 'shared goals and incentives'.

At the same time, it makes a barely-concealed plea for less government micro-management of the industry, when it says: 'It also means the industry having greater freedom to determine the most efficient way of delivering for passengers, companies that use rail to move their goods and those who fund investment'.

The publication of the report is plainly timed to influence the Value For Money study now being carried out for the government by Sir Roy McNulty, which it says it is intended to 'inform'.

However, the report is not intended to be a super-Route Utilisation Study, because it says that it is 'too early to be definitive' about individual projects.

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