Commons boost for rail freight
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HIGH-PROFILE Labour MP Robin Cook last week tabled an early day motion (EDM) in Parliament calling on the government to do all it can to boost rail freight.
This is in line with a campaign by the train drivers' union, Aslef, which was launched in parliament earlier this month. Aslet and Cook argue that a switch to rail freight would have environmental benefits: Cook's motion says: "Emissions from road freight transport rose by 59% between 1990 and 2002." while congestion -costs i.120bn per year".
By the time MPs started their summer holidays last week 47 had signed the EDM.
Aslef argues that as well as environmental benefits a switch to rail would mean more jobs in the rail business. General secretary Keith Norman says: "It is essential that the case for rail freight is understood by MPs and the government."
The Freight Transport Association broadly welcomed Cook's efforts. External affairs director Geoff Dossetter says: "It is essential that we maximise rail freight in order to ease congestion.., but there is a problem in that the rail system is as congested as the roads. And of course rail can never deliver door to door."
He adds that those who transport their goods by rail are "not buying a day return, they are buying a 20year season ticket, so they need to be sure they can get reliability".