Protection of continental gauge access illustrates need for strategic planning

17th January 2011
 

Freight on Rail welcomes the Mayor of London’s intervention 1 to protect continental gauge rail access from High Speed One to the only affordable site at Barking so that high volumes of freight can be brought into the heart of London from the Continent with all the associated economic 2, environmental 3 and social 4 benefits.

Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail Manager said, “This safeguarding decision by the Mayor of London is a perfect example of the need for strategic planning to provide the wider perspective to secure the best outcome for society. We urge the Coalition to make sure that local planning authorities are required to consider wider economic and environmental benefits and impacts of local schemes in the new duty to co-operate in the Localism Bill”.

1. The Mayor secured the co-operation of Tesco to redesign its application for a distribution depot at Beam Reach to allow for a narrow rail corridor at the perimeter of the site to access further lands for a rail terminal because of its proxmity to exchange sidings which allow transfer to conventional tracks.

2. The key benefits of this gauge is interoperability as virtually any kind of wagons can be used unlike the normal UK gauges

3. Rail freight produces 70% less carbon dioxide emissions than the equivalent long distance road journey – Source DfT Logistics Perspective December 2008 P8 section 10

4. Existing HGVs are over 3 times more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than cars on major roads due to a combination of size, lack of proper enforcement of drivers hours, vehicle overloading and differing foreign operating standards source
Source: Road Statistics 2008, Tables 3.2 and 3.6, Road Freight Statistics 2008 Section 5, both UK Department for Transport)