Definition of Freight on Rail
Freight on Rail is a campaign working to get goods off roads and onto rail as an important step in developing a more sustainable distribution system.

Freight on Rail is a partnership between transport trades unions, freight operating companies, the Rail Freight Group and Transport 2000. It works to promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of rail freight both nationally and locally. It advocates policy changes that support the shift to rail and provides information and help on freight related issues. In particular, it aims to help local authorities through all stages of the process such as planning a rail-freight strategy, accessing grants and dealing with technical matters.

Please note references to the GLA Draft London Plan are in parenthesis

1.1 Overview

Freight on Rail would like to make the point that there was a thriving rail freight terminal there until planning blight affected the site so we do not support the written statement “that the railway land which is largely unused”.

1.5 Strategic planning context

PPG13 must also be taken into account. The rail freight facility must also allow for rail freight future growth as per the Government ‘Ten Year Plan’ and the targets for 80 per cent growth in rail freight in this ten year period until 2010. The SRA Strategic Plan of January 2002 and the SRA Freight Strategy of May 2001 stated that 3-4 freight terminals were needed in the Greater London area if this 80 per cent growth was to be realised. Cricklewood is one of the few suitable and available sites for this purpose and is highly strategic for rail freight.

Provision for the waste transfer station to be rail connected must be maintained.

The London Plan

1.6

Rail freight can play an important part in implementing many of the GLA policies listed below:-

Greater use of sustainable modes such as rail to move London’s freight
Safeguarding of sites for railheads so that existing and new rail freight can reach its customers
building “strategic” freight transfer complexes on London’s periphery and of smaller facilities within Greater London
Greater use of rail-served docks and wharfage
Providing rail-served transfer stations to handle London’s
waste
Providing railheads to supply materials for London’s construction industry
Establishing a partnership between the GLA, TfL and stake-holding organisations
Close co-ordination between the GLA, TfL and the Strategic Rail Authority
Addressing the special considerations of night-time freight movements
Minimising the impact on the community made by the movement of waste

(GLA Plan sections 2B10 & 2 B 101)

Opportunity areas in North London
Cricklewood is not former railway land, it is existing railway land with an operational rail freight terminal and a waste disposal plant which uses rail freight. Cricklewood is an important regeneration area and retention of the right type of rail freight terminal/interchange is key to the GLA being able to meet its stated aim to use more sustainable distribution methods. It is a strategic site and one of very few left available for such purposed.

(GLA Plan sections 3C11 Land Retention Problems)

Freight on Rail is supportive of the guidelines in this section which highlight the need to protect land for transport purposes and freight handling and would emphasis how few suitable sites are available. This is in line with PPG13. This issue should be addressed by the Supplementary Planning Guidance on land for transport functions.

(GLA Plan section 3C4 Reducing congestion)

The right type and size of rail freight terminal can help the GLA shift freight from road to rail.

1.7 Freight on Rail notes that Barnet has one of the highest population growths in the area which will mean pressure for housing but also the means to service the population with goods and facilities.

(GLA Plan section 3C5 Improving freight movements and the distribution of goods and services)

Freight on Rail fully supports the GLA’s plan to promote sustainable development of rail, road and waterborne freight facilities in London.

(GLA Plan sections 3C55 Need for rail freight terminals)

Rail freight cannot increase without the provision of more freight interchanges in the London area, as outlined in the SRA Strategic Plan. Freight on Rail supports the SRA’s plan for 3-4 large multi-modal freight facilities on the periphery of London and the SRA’s comments that a number of smaller facilities within the urban area will be required.
Cricklewood is an important regeneration area and retention of a suitable rail freight terminal/interchange which allows for bulk and aggregates traffic with sufficient warehousing, is a key facility needed to support the GLA aim to use more sustainable distribution. It has strategic importance and is one of the few remaining suitable sites in Greater London

(GLA Plan section 4A Waste)

Freight on Rail supports the aim of increasing waste removal by rail and water and the protection of waste disposal sites using rail. It would like to highlight the importance of the existing waste disposal site at Cricklewood and stress that the redevelopment plans should retain this rail connected facility with proper road access.

(GLA Plan section 4A5 Spatial policies to support the better use of aggregates)

Freight on Rail supports the policy to safeguard existing railhead capacity to handle and process aggregates and minimise the movement of aggregates by road

(GLA Plan Section 5.1 Working in partnership)

Freight on Rail would like to thank the GLA for its partnership approach through the LSDP and is keen to take an active part in this partnership with GLA TfL and SRA and other parties as an important tool to make improve freight distribution in Greater London more sustainable.

Transport

1.19
The site has strategic opportunities to serve the City and the east of London as well as north London.

1.20 Waste transfer site should remain rail served.

Policy c7 E Mentions retention or replacement of a viable freight transfer facility at Cricklewood but does not mention that is should retain rail freight transfer facilities.

Implementation

1.25 Policy C11
There is not mention of rail freight provision and waster transfer provision which we believe are vital components of the Cricklewood redevelopment.

Freight on Rail believes that the rail freight facility must incorporate facilities for:-

Aggregates and bulk goods
Sufficient warehousing to make the facility financially viable,
we maintain that cross docking facilities alone are not sufficient
Good road connections
Rail connections with the waste transfer site which must have reasonable road access.