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THE SRA VIEW [STRATEGIC RAIL AUTHORITY) A quote from the quango with overall responsibility for the railways

13th March 2008, Page 38
13th March 2008
Page 38
Page 38, 13th March 2008 — THE SRA VIEW [STRATEGIC RAIL AUTHORITY) A quote from the quango with overall responsibility for the railways
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"Britain's rail system was based on the movement of freight; raw materials to the factories and the transport of finished goods to the ports for export. Rail remained the primary transport system for goods until the second half of the last century when road transport started to gain a serious market share followed by subsequent decades of underinvestment in the network.

"[There is] potential for change in the pattern of the distribution of goods in the UK to a more regionally focused activity.., playing to the strength of rail in providing trunk haul in place of road. The increase in the demand for consumer goods is stimulating the need for new ports to handle large container ships and a rapidly increasing volume of deep-sea containers. Rail is ideal for moving the containers inland but... the success and growth of rail freight can only be sustained if there are enough rail freight interchanges (RFIs) to enable modal shift.

"Rail freight growth is seen as promoting environmental benefits, reducing congestion and enhancing the national economy. Rail is unable in many freight movements fully to complete a journey [so] the best use of rail is in the long-haul element or the primary trunk journey, linking, as necessary, with other modes for the secondary leg of the journey. Strategically located interchanges are required to allow the best use of rail in national freight movements.

"Strategic RFIs are a form and type of rail interchange without which longer-term growth and the development of an efficient rail freight distribution network will not be achieved. A network of strategic RFIs is required to support longer-term freight growth. Intermodal facilities handle containerised freight, most often to and from ports... The vast majority of freight in the UK is moved by road. To achieve modal shift, rail cannot succeed without fitting into a road-based movement model."

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Organisations: STRATEGIC RAIL AUTHORITY

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