EU funding towards rail freight alternative to congested A14 route welcomed23rd October 2009 Freight on Rail welcomes the EU contribution of over £8 million towards upgrading the rail route from the port of Felixstowe to the West Midlands to enhance the rail alternative to the congested A14, as part of its Trans European Transport Network. This rail route, from Britain’s busiest container port, is part of the Government’s Strategic Rail Freight Network vision to upgrade crucial parts of the rail freight network. Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail Manger said “Rail offers a safe freight bypass along the A14 corridor to the West Midlands. Each train to and from Felixstowe can remove 50 long distance HGVs from the route and produce 70% less carbon dioxide emissions than the equivalent road journey1." She added that “This funding must augment the UK Government's commitment, rather than substitue for it, if we are to build the low carbon economy with green jobs we all need.”
Members are Direct Rail Services, DB Schenker, Freightliner, ASLEF, RMT, TSSA, UNITE, Rail Freight Group and Campaign for Better Transport Notes to editors UK Government committed funding £200m for SRFN for period 2009-2014 http://ec.europa.eu/transport/infrastructure/events/doc/2009_10_21/2009-uk-26029-e.pdf Rail freight reduces road congestion as an average container train can remove 50 long distance HGVs and rail freight’s heaviest bulk cargo trains are equal to 160 HGVs. Source Network Rail. Safety
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