Dr Allan Woodburn

I am a Principal Lecturer in Freight and Logistics in the Transport Studies Department at the University of Westminster, and was Course Leader for the MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management course from 2004 to 2017. I was previously a Lecturer in the School of the Built Environment at Napier University, Edinburgh, where I completed my Doctorate (entitled "The role of logistical structure in the development of rail freight services in Great Britain") in 2000.

I have considerable research and consultancy experience, primarily relating to freight transport policy, operations and environmental impacts. My main research focus is in rail freight operations and policy, where I have led a number of studies investigating factors that influence mode choice decision-making and analysing different rail market sectors (e.g. deep-sea containers; non-bulk; construction). Since 1997, I have compiled an annual database of rail freight service provision in Britain, assisting with trend analysis of the overall rail freight market and its different sectors. I have also been involved in a number of other research projects focusing on various freight issues, such as urban logistics and freight consolidation.

External Activities

Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (MCIT; MILT)

Fellow of Higher Education Academy (2019-date)

External Examiner for logistics and supply chain postgraduate courses at two institutions

Key research and consultancy projects:

  • Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (EPSRC; 2020-date)
  • Trends and characteristics of the UK construction rail freight market (University of Westminster; 2019-date)
  • Rapid evidence review of key issues facing rail freight in Great Britain (Government Office for Science; 2017-2018)
  • Container train service provision and load factors survey (University of Westminster; 2012 and 2015)
  • Urban railway hub freight expansion feasibility study (Cross River Partnership; 2014-2015)
  • Impacts on rail freight performance of the North Doncaster Chord (University of Westminster, 2014-2015)
  • Understanding the variability in the composition of rail freight services in Britain (University of Westminster; 2014)
  • Development of rail freight in Europe: what regulation can and cannot do, United Kingdom case study (Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE); 2013-2014)
  • High Speed 2 – Identifying opportunities for freight at Euston and Old Oak Common (Transport for London; 2013)
  • Database of rail freight service provision in Britain (University of Westminster; 1997–date)

  • London Freight Data Centre (Transport for London; 2006–2014)

I am also involved in supervising a Doctoral student and have acted as an External Examiner for Doctoral candidates at other institutions.

  • Centre for Urban Infrastructures