Update: Reply from The Department for Transport (DfT) following my letter to them with the following suggestion:

Background: HS2/3 are massive South to North rail infrastructure projects that are due to be built in the UK. The Government are road testing 'self driving' lorries and in my original post which reached 4K + views I wrote:

"Why take away jobs and leave the environmental issue on the road?! This is nonsensical. Here is a sensible and innovative idea:

So… we are already going to disturb the landscape. Why not utilise the new HS2/3 projects to run parallel freight lines too? Along this 'spine' we could strategically locate local distribution ‘nodes’ from which a local network can be serviced with smaller electrically powered vehicles.

We can future proof this by pre-laying the footings for an additional rail to meet growing capacity.

This way, we keep driving jobs for people who can now work closer to home and we take the environmental issue of the road but here is a list of more amazing benefits:

1. Less carbon

2. Efficiency 

3. Less accidents

4. Job creation 

5. Less tired drivers

6. Local distribution

7. Less road expansion

8. Direct links with major ports? (Dover?)

9. Happier employees and their families 

10.Credibility 

11. Political Gold (Look at the above benefits!)"

The DfT kindly replied on 21 September 2017:

"Thank you for your letter of 31 August in which you suggest running parallel freight lines to the planned routes for High Speed 2 (HS2) and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).

The Government recognises the considerable benefits that are provided by rail freight and is committed to supporting the growth of rail freight in the UK. The Government has confirmed its support for rail freight with the publication of the Rail Freight Strategy (in September 2016), which was developed in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, and sets out a shared vision for the future of the rail freight sector. 

The Strategy was developed and published to help to provide a climate of confidence to allow freight operators and customers to continue investing in the rail freight sector and to look for ways of expanding and transitioning into other markets. It also identified the current challenges to the sector as well as the potential for growth in key sectors. These key markets include intermodal (container) traffic, automotive and aggregates/construction material. 

New investment on the rail network will help ensure that we are able to meet this growth, and major infrastructure schemes such as High Speed 2 (HS2) will deliver a transformational step change in capacity on our rail network and provide resilience for future growth in demand. HS2 will be a passenger carrying railway, however this will present opportunities for modal shift of freight from our roads to our railways, by releasing capacity on key sections of the conventional network, for example along the West Coast Main Line, some of which could be used to provide additional freight services. 

The Rail Freight Group estimates that providing additional freight capacity on our railways could save some 500,000 tonnes of CO per annum by removing around 200 trucks an hour that would otherwise be added to the M40, the M1 and parallel ‘A’ roads.

With regard to Driverless vehicles, lorries on motorways are a step closer to accelerating, braking and steering in sync through wireless technology, as a result of ￡8.1m of Government funding that has been provided for trials. The “platooning” trials will see up to three heavy goods vehicles, travelling in convoy, with acceleration and braking controlled by the lead vehicle. All lorries in the platoon will always have a driver ready to take control at any time.

If successful, this technology could have major benefits for motorists and businesses in the UK. A row of lorries driving closer together could see the front truck pushing the air out of the way, making the vehicles in the convoy more efficient, lowering emissions and improving air quality. Smaller gaps between the lorries could also mean less space taken up on our roads, potentially cutting congestion. 

The Transport Research Laboratory will carry out the trial, with funding provided by the Department for Transport and Highways England. It follows a government-funded feasibility study which recommended a trial to examine the benefits and viability of platooning

The trial will be carried out in three phases, with the first focusing on the potential for platooning on the UK’s major roads. Initial test track based research will help determine finer details such as distance between vehicles and suitable roads to be used for testing. Trials are expected on major roads by the end of 2018. 

Similar trials have already been successfully carried out in Europe and the United States. Having said that I can assure you that each phase of testing in the UK will only begin when there is robust evidence that it can be done safely.   

It may interest you to know that with regard to freight that is transported on the road, the Government is supporting the development and deployment of low emission commercial vehicles and refuelling infrastructure. In January 2017, the DfT, OLEV and Innovate UK announced 20 projects awarded ￡20 million through the Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trial. The aim of the competition is to demonstrate new technologies and to encourage the widespread introduction of low and zero emission vehicles to UK fleets. The Trial is supporting industry-led trials of alternative propulsion technologies, including electricity, hydrogen and biofuels.

The plug-in van grant, which provides up to ￡8,000 or 20% of the value of electric/plug-in hybrid vans, was extended in 2016 to encompass vans of category N1, N2 or N3. The first 200 N2 or N3 vehicles claimed will receive up to ￡20,000 or 20% of the value.  

The Spring Budget 2017 announced that a call for evidence on updating the existing HGV Road User Levy will be launched in due course. A key aim is to reward hauliers that plan their routes efficiently, to incentivise the efficient use of roads and improve air quality. 

In the Autumn Statement 2016 the Chancellor announced ￡20m for a ‘Future Fuels for Flight and Freight’ Competition (F4C). Through F4C, DfT is aiming to increase domestic production of advanced fuels capable of tackling emissions from hard-to-decarbonise sectors, and stimulate investment and create jobs through the development of a prosperous domestic industry.

I hope this helps to assure you that the Government is aware of the advantages of transporting gods by rail but is also determined to take action to reduce emissions caused by freight carrying vehicles on the road.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Curson

High Speed Rail Group"

So... now we know. I did reply on 22nd September asking that my idea was recognised as having merit and in a short reply Mr Curson said:

"Dear Mr Johnson

Re: Bolt-on Idea to HS2/3 Project Please Consider

Thank you for your further letter of 22 September in which you suggest a central rail spine to carry freight along its full length rather than at rail junctions. Your idea is an interesting one which is not without its merit but I am afraid that the plans for High Speed 2 (HS2) are just too advanced and the budgetary restrictions would not allow for the additional expenditure.

It is hoped that if sufficient numbers of passengers switch from existing rail services then that could allow for extra transportation of freight on existing rail lines but only time will tell.

Thank you once again for writing in. 

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Curson High Speed Rail Group"

There you go... it was good to hear this from 'the horses mouth' so to speak and thank you to all those that originally supported the idea and spurred me on to make the suggestion but it looks like the Government is committed to the current plans...