developments in freight transport

probable developments in freight transport in great britain over the next 20 years were investigated in a series of interviews with transport operators and users. the report of the study presents an analysis of past trends in freight transport by the four main modes (road, rail, water and pipeline) and discusses likely future technical and operational developments in freight transport modes and distribution management. the future demand for freight transport is analysed in terms of the effects of economic factors, industrial structure and location, transport policies, non-transport policies and energy costs. the study reaches a number of broad qualitative conclusions about the economic and environmental impacts of these changes in the period 1980-2000.(a)