Trucks take more freight from rail
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• international road hauliers are continuing to take traffic from rail, according to the latest figures from Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel.
The number of trucks carried by Eurotunnel's freight shuttle during July, August and September rose by 19% to more than 207,000 compared with the same period last year railfreight tonnage fell from around 746.000 tonnes to just over 721,000.
The move from rail to road is being blamed on French railway strikes which have continued to hit confidence in rail freight, and the lower cost offered by road hauliers—particularly those from eastern Europe, • Eurotunnel and the other Dover-Calais operator, P&O Stena, have told their freight companies that they are bringing in a £20 one-way fare increase for HGVs.
But both companies say that this increase MI not put freight rates above those in place when the Channel Tunnel opened in the mid-nineties.