Freight on Rail welcomes Rail Strategy and Gospel Oak to Barking Transport Innovation Funding announcement.

25th July 2007

Freight on Rail welcomes the Government’s long-term rail strategy and the announcement today of a £18.5 m contribution to enhancements on the Gospel Oak to Barking line, a key London rail artery, as part of the Transport Innovation Funding (TIF).

The rail strategy recognises rail freight’s role in servicing the economy and offering a low carbon freight transport solution, in line with the recommendations of both the Stern and Eddington reports.

Philippa Edmunds Freight on Rail Campaigner said, “The creation of a Strategic Freight Network and the £200 million funding for the period to 2014 will enable important network improvements to be implemented to cater for the demand for rail freight services”.

She added that “The Gospel Oak to Barking line provides an alternative route for container traffic across London to cater for the growing traffic from the ports as well as allowing for a more flexible maintenance routine on the rail network”.
 

Notes to Editors:

• Freight trains emit five times less carbon dioxide per tonne mile than road haulage.
• An average freight train can remove 50 HGVs from our roads
  

Freight on Rail is a partnership between ASLEF, TSSA, RMT, UNITE - AMICUS, EWS, Freightliner, Network Rail, the Rail Freight Group and Transport 2000.

For further information contact please contact Philippa Edmunds at Freight on Rail on 020 8241 9982
email: philippa@freightonrail.org.uk
web site: www.freightonrail.org.uk