RAIL Freight: Ready for a Revolution (not another Evolution)

There’s been a lot of talk about modal shift lately. Shifting freight off the roads and onto rail. It’s more environmentally friendly, more efficient and means more space on the M25. What’s not to like? 

But if we’re serious about growing rail freight, we need to take a good hard look at the way we’re doing it right now. Despite good intentions, we’re still planning services like it’s 1999, with all the flexibility of a 1980s PERTIS machine. 

And while policy talks about revolution, the day-to-day reality? It feels like déjà vu. 

Capacity: A System Stuck in the Past  

We’re told there’s no room for freight. That passenger services take priority,that the network is full. But here’s the reality, we’re only using around 50% of the freight paths wealready have. 

Current rules force operators to book paths weeks in advance, with no flexibility to amendor reallocate. If a service doesn’t run, that path is lost. There’s no automatic re-use. No dynamic pathing. No system intelligence. 

Weend up with a double whammy: a congested network and underused capacity. 

And it’s not just a technical issue, it’s a cultural one. Freight is an afterthought. The system works around passengers, and freight gets to fill in the gaps.. 

Digital Railway...But Hold the Freight? 

Digital signalling is finally becoming a reality. ETCS is rolling out on the East Coast Main Line with TPU and TriLink close behind. And while that’s great news for network efficiency, it’s a massive headache if you’re trying to run a freight train. 

Why? Because for freight, it introduces a new layer of complexity. Trains need to be set up with accurate, structured data. For example, braking characteristics, train length, load types, traction class etc., and that information has to be machine-readable and consistent. 

Andcurrently there’s no process across the UK freight sector to capture and transmit that data. Operators have done well with the tools available, but the infrastructure simply hasn’t been there to support it. 

Resource(ful) or Restricted? 

Freight operators are resourceful. They get stuff done. But they’re working with one hand tied behind their back.  Old systems, endless spreadsheets, manually prepping consists and chasing down ETAs by phone. 

And customers? They’re comparing this to the world of DPD, DHL and Amazon, where you can track a package from warehouse to doorstep in 10 second intervals. 

Rail can’t keep pretending it’s exempt from modern logistics expectations. If we want freight customers to use rail, we need to offer them something that looks, feels, and works like a 21st-century service. 

So What’s the Fix? 

We need a digital backbone. A platform that:  

• Plans services intelligently and flexibly 

• Gives live visibility of trains, wagons, and crews 

• Supports ETCS data requirements 

• Automates compliance and performance reporting 

• Connects the control room, the yard, the customer, and everyone in between 

• Helps operators respond in the moment, not after the fact  

Enter RAILSoft. 

RAILSoft: Built for Rail. Ready for the UK. 

What is RAILSoft? It’s a modular digital platform designed specifically for rail freight, bringing together planning, live operations, asset management, compliance, and customer-facing functions into one intelligent system. It replaces disconnected spreadsheets and outdated tools with real-time visibility, smarter automation, and a digital backbone that freight operators can actually scale with. 

RAILSoft in Action 

The best part, it’s not just theory, it’s working in some of Europe’s toughest, most complex freight environments.  

Poland: cutting turnaround times and automating dispatch.   In Poland, RAILSoft supports open-access operators like Captrain Polska, automating everything from cargo planning to dispatch and customer communications, freeing up control teams and improving service reliability.  

It’s also been successfully implemented at the Baltic Hub, Poland’s largest container terminal, where it plays a key role in managing complex intermodal operations. That kind of scale and pace demands serious system resilience, and RAILSoft delivers.  

Ukraine: keeping freight flowing even in wartime conditions.   RAILSoft has been deployed at the intermodal terminal in Vinnytsia, complete with web, desktop and mobile access, keeping freight flowing even in the most testing wartime conditions. 

From rail operators in Poland and Ukraine to one of Europe’s busiest container ports, RAILSoft delivers integrated, ETCS-ready freight management that works where it matters most. 

And now, we’re bringing it to the UK. 

RAILSoft covers everything from planning and resource scheduling to digital train composition, live tracking, customer portals, mobile tools for ground staff, and automated regulatory returns.   

RAILSoft has a flexible architecture designed to integrate with national systems like TRUST, NROL and LINX, and is ready to be aligned with UK operational requirements. It’s ETCS-ready, scalable, and already proven in some of Europe’s most demanding freight environments.  

In short, it works. 

Why Migo? Why Now? 

We’re not new to this. At Migo, we’ve been behind the scenes of some of the UK’s biggest rail data and transformation programmes We understand how UK rail ticks (and sometimes doesn’t tick). We’ve seen the good, the bad, and the workaround. 

So, we’ve partnered with Petrosoft, the team behind RAILSoft, to adapt and deliver the platform for the UK market, drawing on their proven track record across Europe and combining it with our deep understanding of UK rail freight. 

We’re working with Petrosoft to ensure RAILSoft is genuinely fit for UK freight — aligned with safety frameworks, operational practices, and the digital railway roadmap. And we’ll embed it with operators so it delivers real change, not just another system bolted on top.  Yes, that means change management too (don’t all cheer at once). 

Final Food For Thought 

We’re at a turning point. Government policy is aligned. The tech is ready. The market wants it. But without the right digital tools, ambition won’t turn into growth.  

RAILSoft is the digital backbone UK freight needs the tool. Now is the time. Let’s stop talking about modal shift and start making it happen. 

We’re ready to show operators how it works. Are you ready to hear it? 

Let’s talk. 

Jason Dunk

Consulting Specialist

jason.durk@migoconsult.co 

Partnering with Petrosoft to deliver the digital backbone UK rail freight deserves.