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Tories support LHV trials — if university report backs them
Page 7
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THE NEW SHADOWTranspori Minister says running longer, heavier vehicles (LHVs) on UK roads would not bring the rail freight industry to its knees because they could be taxed to maintain competition.
Robert Goodwill MP says a study by rail-freight operator EWS claiming there would be a "significant impact on existing logistics, intermodal and bulk rail freight services" if the government allowed the introduction of LHVs is flawed because it does not address taxation.
However, the Conservatives are awaiting publication of a report by Heriot-Watt University and the Transport Research Laboratory before giving LHVs their full backing.
Goodwill says the government would be unable to resist the economic benefit LHVs provide in terms of taxation, especially if it maintained competition between rail and road freight. "The jury is still out [on LHVs]," he adds. "There are a number of important questions that need convincing answers before we would have them used in a widespread situation in the UK.
"But if the report from HeriotWatt is positive then some sort of trial would be the logical step to take, in terms of the viability of running those vehicles.
lwanti to read the report before we determine our position."