Posted 8th January 2009 | 5 Comments
Government blueprint outlines vital need for rail freight
Lindsay Durham, head of rail strategy for Freightliner
A GOVERNMENT blueprint for working with, and supporting, the rail freight industry has been welcomed by the Freightliner Group.
Announced by transport secretary Geoff Hoon, the document acknowledges the importance of the freight industry as key to the continued competitiveness of the UK economy.
The report also stresses the need for the industry to minimise its environmental and social costs, and the importance of co-operation with government to improve efficiency.
Lindsay Durham, head of rail strategy for Freightliner, said: “This report has been published following engagement with the freight industry over the last year.
“We welcome this collaborative approach and look forward to working with the DfT to enable plans to be developed that will further improve the efficiency of the UK logistics chain. Obviously, like other industries, the worldwide economic downturn has affected the freight industry in the UK, but we are delighted that this report recognises the need for a long-term freight strategy.
“We are especially pleased that the document acknowledges the important role that rail freight can play in reducing road congestion and carbon outputs in the future.”
The DfT’s paper sets out the expected future container growth from major deep-sea ports such as Felixstowe and Southampton and the government’s investment approach to connecting networks to centres of demand to reduce congestion and improve reliability.
In recent months the DfT has announced a number of substantial investments in the rail network, including £208 million to develop a strategic freight network and £55 million to allow more freight to move on the North London line.
Reader Comments:
Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.
H Harvey, Birmingham
Jock, in the south, clearly talks rubbish
This government has REDUCED Road tax for the bigest lorries even though these vehicles doMOT pay their full road costs
Lookin every lay by you will find lorries parked overnight a cost to the motorist who the monster lorries try to push off the roads built by the taxpayer and ratepayer.
Roads and motorways are hammered to death by these pirates of the transport industry whose flexibility is to break by overloading, speeding and exceeding drivers hours.
Railfreight hs to pay for its 'lay bys' and overnight parking guage improement and freight sidings .
The road haulier in contrast gets his road widening/lay by/dual carriageway extra lanes on m ways on the back of the motorist/taxpayer/ratepayer.
The latest freebie for the haulier is freight concentration centres in the major conurbations. Built at the local ratepayers expense they provide break bulk facilities. Thus once and for all the door to door lie of the road haulage industry is now being exposed for what it is.
Their latest .
Beacky, Derby, United Kingdom
Invest in the Rail Industry and get Freight off the road and onto rail other than local distribution. We have a good Rail Network at present but with investment we could seriously improve this.
Jock, in the south, uk
Why should the goverment put more money into the railfreight infrasture, whilst they are screwing road tax, fuel and other bits and bobs out of the road hauliers, they don't get nothing out of us ,even Network Rail don't want us freight trains on their network, they don't get paid big enough bonuses from us. As for Felixstowe, not in my time and i have 20 years to go.
Craig Ward, Blackburn, England
Only one mixed freight terminal in the whole of Lancashire! Doesn't that say it all.
leslie burge, leicester, england
The Dft needs to stop pussyfooting around and spend some real government money on railfreight infrastucture.
At the moment it seems that the majority of investments is scewed towards roads.
We really need to tip the balance more in favour of rail especially as it is far more environmentally friendly. Move all freight by rail except local distribution is what we should be aiming for.