Rail freight to grow by 15% in ten years
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by Melanie Hammond
The government's 10-year transport plan will include measures to almost double rail freight over the next decade, although how this is to be achieved has yet to be revealed.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott says the government's target is to increase railfreight movements by at least 75% over the next 10 years, saving 1bn truck-kilometres and easing congestion on roads.
A Department of Transport spokesman dismisses reports that rail is to get a 140bn cash injection as "speculation", adding that the scale of the investment will be subject to the Treasury's Spending Review in July. However, at the launch of an [WS freight train last week, Prescott said: "In the 10-year plan we will give industry the key to unlock the benefits of a modern rail network and provide business with a competitive alternative for freight transport.'
Extra cash will allow new sections of track to be built and disused parts of the network to be reopened. But the government says that its commitment will rely on Raiitrack "pulling itself harder" and on local authorities "responding positively to planning for intermodal facilities".
Railtrack's performance on rail freight came under fire last week after it emerged that it had presented plans to the rail regulator to exclude 42 "slow-line paths" for freight on the upgraded West Coast Main Line.
Freight Transport Association (FTA) rail policy manager Sarah Crockford says: "Rail freight will grow by providing its customers with a must-buy offer. This has to include reliable and competitively priced services."