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Rail freight groups rally to derail 'mega trucks'
Page 6
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By Christopher Walton MEP CANDIDATES across Europe are being lobbied to oppose the introduction of 'mega trucks' (up to 25.5m long and 60 tonnes in weight) by rail freight groups ahead of next month's Euro elections.
In the UK, Freight on Rail claims to have uncovered "fundamental mathematical errors in the European Commission-sponsored mega trucks research" (Examining adapting weights and dimensions of lorries in EU Directive 96/53), which it believes undermines the case for longer, heavier vehicles.
It claims the error is in the calculation of how many LHVs are needed to replace current HGV usage. Freight on Rail says that while the carrying capacity of LHVs is 50% greater. it does not mean that only 50% of the current level of lorries would be needed. Freight on Rail believes a 50% increase in payload would mean that three HGVs at the current limit could be replaced by two 'mega trucks' — a 33% reduction.
The claims are backed by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), which represents 72 rail operators across Europe.
Johannes Ludewig, CER executive director, says: "Allowing mega trucks on all European roads would be a negative move and make the EU's climate targets for 2020 harder to reach.
"It would produce a shift from rail back to road, in terms of freight quantities and investment," he adds. "Infrastructure investment would need to be focused on upgrading roads to cater for the new vehicles."
The German road transport association BGL has alleged that the German Toll Maut sponsors German railways with approximately one billion euros annually. It says the money is partly used to campaign against an environmentally friendly picture of road transport through the website www.nomegatrucks.eu.
However, Jack Semple, director of policy at the Road Haulage Association, believes there is a "clear argument" for longer, heavier vehicles.
"There are the economic and environmental gains, as well as the improvements in efficiency. But any increase in efficiency in road transport has been opposed by the rail freight sector."
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