Freight on Rail Response to the strategy for Community Railways

May 28th 2004

Freight on Rail welcomes the opportunity to comment on the strategy for Community Railways

The format of our response is a short introduction on Freight on Rail , its membership, recent statistics on rail freight and then our response to the consultation.

Definition of Freight on Rail

Freight on Rail, a partnership between transport trades unions, freight operating companies, the Rail Freight Group and Transport 2000, 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.

The members are as follows:-

Rail Freight Group, EWS, Freightliner, GB Railfreight, RMT, ASLEF, TSSA and Transport 2000

Background to rail freight

Rail freight traffic has grown 50% since 1994, and now commands 12 per cent of the surface freight market in the UK. Freight on Rail supports the Government’s ten-year Transport Plan target of 80% growth in rail freight throughout the UK in the period 2000 – 2010 and believes without this growth, the government will not reach its congestion or pollution reduction targets, nor comply with EU air pollution regulations.

The simple statistic showing that an average freight train can remove 50 HGVs from our roads clearly and simply illustrated what rail freight contributes to our economy and society.

The use of rail relieves the road network of thousands of lorry movements per day, thus easing road congestion. As well as the economic benefits of rail freight derived from road congestion amelioration, there are significant environmental and social advantages. Society has to shoulder the external costs of road and air transportation. International Railway Union (UIC) 2000 research shows that rail freight’s external costs, i.e. excluding congestion are eight time less per tonne kilometre than air freight and four times less than road.

Consultation paper on a strategy for Community Railways

Rail freight has an important role in the economy today and for the future prosperity of the nation. Road transportation is experiencing significant problems such as road congestion and HGV driver shortages of 47,000 currently. The imminent introduction of the Working Time Directive which is estimated to cost the industry an extra £1 billion per annum and require another 30,000 drivers, will make rail an even more important alternative to business.

The fundamental point is that the consultation does not say how to accommodate freight with no indication of how to resolve any freight related issues.

The freight operators need to offer flexible services to their customers and be able to operate additional freight trains at short notice over a range of routes. This means that they require a railway that is available 24/7 which is capable of handling rolling stock with capacity to meet their needs.

Customers need to have confidence in rail both short and long term so that they can build their supply chains around rail and invest in the necessary equipment.

The adoption of the strategy should not undermine the ability of the rail freight industry to operate now, or in the future, on routes that are critical for the freight business. A number of the routes listed in the SRA’s consultation are vital for existing freight traffic and have the potential for freight growth in the future.

The SRA should review its list of lines proposed for Community Rail designation (ref Appendix C) on a regular basis and should consult fully with all the freight operators and the Rail Freight Group before suggesting any changes to lines ‘ with no potential for freight’.

The SRA should recognise that freight operators’ rights to use the network are governed by legally binding track access contracts between them and Network Rail. Any changes to the capacity or capability of any part of the network must be handled in accordance with the procedures in the Network Code. Any dispute should be handled by the Rail Regulator.

We are committed to working with all the different users of the railway on a shared railway. Freight has an important role in the economy which the SRA is aware of and these interests must be safeguarded in line with the Government policy in ‘the Ten Year Plan’ to increase rail freight volumes.

In summary, freight’s access to lines must safeguarded with the necessary capability and paths. Nothing should be done on such lines to preclude freight.