Response to East Coast Main Line capacity study

12th January 2006

Definition of Freight on Rail

Freight on Rail would like to thank Network Rail for the opportunity to comment on the capacity study for the East Coast Main Line
 

7.6 The effect of any additional passenger services on existing freight capability and on the potential for freight growth

Freight on Rail is disappointed by the statement that there is no capacity for further freight paths beyond the 2005 levels on what is a crucial national freight route.

Rail freight forecasts, prepared by the FTA/RFG in the last quarter of 2005, show considerable demand for increased freight capacity on the ECML.
 

Government Policy

Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP, Secretary of State for Transport 19th July 2005
Ministerial statement
“Our clear policy aim is to see goods being moved in a sustainable way, which maximizes benefits to the economy and to society.”

“The case for rail freight is well-made” – Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling Secretary of State 25th September 2003
 

Rail Freight’s role in the economy

Rail freight plays an important role in alleviating road congestion, which according to the Government is set to grow by up to 37 per cent by 2010.

The environmental case for rail freight is well rehearsed but the following statistics show the vital contribution rail freight makes to protecting the environment and helping the government meet is commitments to improving air quality and tackling climate change.
 

Freight Transport: Average emissions in grams per tonne-kilometre

Source: AEA Technology Environment for SRA, 2004

Key: PM10 particulate matter of less than 10 microns; CO carbon monoxide; NOx oxides of nitrogen; CO2 carbon dioxide; VOC volatile organic compounds.
 

Ports

Rail freight is an important part of the transport solution for ports -
95 per cent of all goods travel in and out of our ports.

“Rail will have to play a significant future role in moving cargo out of the British ports… As an industry we need all the rail freight we can get.” Jens Holger Niesen, MD, Maersk Sealand

Container traffic is ideally suited to rail and the future forecasts reflects this. More than ten per cent of existing rail volumes is made up of maritime continers and this is expected to grow to 17 per cent (21m tonnes) by 2014.

Implication of no additional freight paths on the Ports

There are three port expansion plans that would require more paths on the ECML.

Felixstowe
Bathside Bay
Thameshaven

Ministers have stated that they are minded to give approval for Bathside Bay and Thameshaven. Capacity needs to be allowed on the ECML for freight as destinations for containers from these ports are located on the ECML at Doncaster, Wakefield and Leeds.

Teesport has plans to expand and will require increased capacity as well as capability on the network.

Immingham is expanding this year and will require more capacity.
 

Alconbury

The strategy as currently drafted does not cater sufficiently for this development, which was originally promised 20 paths per day by Railtrack?

Freight on Rail believes there is a strong economic case for increasing capacity on the ECML to cater for increased passenger and freight movements.

 
Philippa Edmunds 12th January 2006