Freight on Rail Response to the Draft Regional Transport Strategy for the South East

May 28th 2004

Freight on Rail welcomes the opportunity to comment on Draft Regional Transport Strategy for the South East

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, Network Rail 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, Network Rail, 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

Freight on Rail would like to give its support for what we believe it is a very strong and robust strategy. We only have a few comments for consideration.

P26 Rail Freight
The Gateway Function

9.73 While the SRA has given its commitment to gauge clearance for the route from Southampton to the West Midlands, the Government has to-date not provided the necessary funding for the SRA to commission this work.

Interchanges
9.77 The document mentions the need for intermodal terminals however there is no mention of reviewing the need for bulk terminals.

Policy T16
As well as working with the SRA, FTA, Highways Agency the assembly should also work with the freight operators and the Rail Freight Group to identify broad locations within the region for up to 3 inter-modal interchange facilities.