Government says no to longer heavier lorries (LHVs)

3rd June 2008

Photo during German trials  - Allianz Pro Schiene/ Kraufmann

Freight on Rail is delighted that the Government has rejected trials of 60-tonne 25.5 metre lorries on UK roads on economic, environmental and social grounds. Road and rail modes can complement each other but trunk movements of large quantities of freight can be more sustainably and more safely carried by rail rather than in ever larger lorries.

Philippa Edmunds, Campaigner Freight on Rail said” These lorries would have been fifty per cent longer and a third heavier than existing lorries and not suitable for our congested road network. The easiest way to achieve carbon reduction 1, reduce congestion and improve safety is by encouraging more goods to transfer to rail. The rail industry offers high service standards enabling a real choice of modes, particularly on long distance trunk hauls. Rising energy prices also accelerate the case for rail, which is more energy efficient than road 2. Rail freight can act as a freight bypass by offering a more reliable alternative as road congestion continues to grow. Remember an average freight train can remove 50 HGVs from our roads.”

She added that “The British Government has taken the lead in rejecting LHVs and listened to the public 3. Now we hope that the European Commission, which is currently evaluating longer heavier lorries, will follow suit. The German Government rejected LHVs last November after extensive trials, largely on road safety grounds.”

 

Philippa Edmunds Freight on Rail Campaigner is available for comments on 020 8241 9982 mobile 07981 881410

Members are Direct Rail Services, EWS, Freightliner, ASLEF, RMT, TSSA, UNITE- Amicus Section, Rail Freight Group and Campaign for Better Transport

Notes to editors

Freight on Rail does not accept the fundamental argument that underpined the case the proponents make for longer heavier lorries (LHVs); that LHVs would result in less lorries, less emissions and therefore less exposure to accidents. Research commissioned by Freight on Rail shows that previous increases in lorry dimensions have resulted in more lorries driving around less full, causing more road congestion and more pollution, which is the reverse of what was claimed would happen.

• The claimed environmental benefits of LHVs would rely on very high levels of load utilisation – in excess of that routinely achieved within the haulage sector
  
  
• The reduction in costs of road freight with LHVs would stimulate demand which will mean more lorry miles, more pollution and more congestion ie rebound effect.
  
  
• LHVs would have dangers of their own due to their size and lack of manoeuvrability
  
  
• Road haulage industry has a poor record in complying with existing road regulations
  
  
• Trying to restrict LHVs to dual-carriageways and motorways simply will not work and LHVs would need access to depots

For more details please go to our hot topic, European Commission evaluating longer heavier lorries
 

1. Per tonne carried, rail produces between three to five times less carbon dioxide, depending on the cargo, than road transport

2. Energy efficiency is directly related to carbon dioxide emissions.

3. NOP poll August 2007 found that 75% of people opposed LHVs and 80% wanted more rail freight instead.