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RFG says public supports its move to increase rail freight
Page 8
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Rail Freight Group claims public favours rail freight over road, and urges parliament to reconsider trials of 25-metre HGVs. Sally Nash reports.
THE RAIL Freight Group has written to Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, urging the government to abandon plans to allow trials of heavier, longer vehicles.
The move follows a recent NOP survey, commissioned by rail union ASLEF, which revealed that 67% of the public are against proposals to allow trucks weighing 60 tonnes on UK roads (CM 18 August).
The NOP survey also showed 86% of people are in favour of increasing freight on rail. These results were consistent with the findings of a 2003 YouGov poll, in which 79% of people identified getting freight off roads and on to rail as a priority for government.
Concerns were raised following the discovery that ministers are considering applications from two road hauliers to trial 25.25m HGVs that weigh 60 tonnes. RFG chairman, Lord Berkeley, quoted the NOP survey findings in his letter to Darling and urged the government to think again.
"Over the past 10 years rail freight has grown by 50%, removing millions of lorry journeys from our congested roads," says Berkeley. -Sadly, if proposals to run 60tonne lorries get the go-ahead this progress could be lost."