According the Rail Freight Group, the data reflects an upturn in building activity as the economy returns to growth. A record level of 3.93 billion tonne-km of traffic was moved, including quarried stone, cement and other products.
Growth was recorded in intermodal traffic with a 5 percent increase and international rail freight through the Channel Tunnel which increased by 27 percent over the same period.
However, figures reveal a 19 percent decline in the movement of coal for power generation which offset growth seen elsewhere.
The total amount of freight moved in 2014-15 recorded an increase of 1.1 percent to 5.8 billion net tonne kilometres, compared with Q4 in the previous year.
Maggie Simpson, RFG Executive Director commented on the latest UK rail freight figures: “The significant decrease in coal traffic over the last year, whilst not wholly unexpected, is of major concern to freight operators. However, it is pleasing to see sustained growth in other business sectors helping to offset this decline.â€
