Despite poor press coverage of passenger rail in general, rail freight operators are amongst the most punctual and reliable on the UK rail network.

As with any logistics contract individual customers according to their requirements can contractually specify key performance indicators. Royal Mail for example have very tight performance criteria, which include hitting time windows of 10-minutes at various points in the network, not just at the final destination. The delivery of this service against its specified performance target rarely drops below 100%.

"Rail is more reliable than road."

Peter Ulber, Chief Executive - Keuhne & Nagel

The timetabled nature of rail freight means that a robustly configured and well-managed operation will provide regular, predictable and reliable service.

As with every other partner in the supply chain, improvement in the level of service received from rail freight companies comes as a result of good communication between customer and service provider. Each has to understand the level of service required from one another, from provision of appropriate wagons to the importance of presenting a loaded train to the network in time to meet a booked slot.

In pure performance terms train speeds vary between 60mph up to 110mph for premium parcel freight although improving technology, wagon design and investment in locomotives mean service speeds are increasing all the time.

More information can is available at www.railfreightonline.com