shunted into siding
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
on localities that do not have the roads to cope with them," says Rifkind.
He also announced his intention to break British Rail's monopoly of rail freight services: "We intend to allow anyone who wishes to provide rail services for freight or for passengers, and who can meet the necessary standards for safety and competence, to be able to do so," he says. They will no longer require BR's permission or be obliged to use their staff or rolling stock. "Monopolies are no more acceptable on the railways than elsewhere," says Rifkind.
But he says he is not forgetting roads: he is commissioning research which could take two to three years into urban traffic congestion. It will assess road pricing in cities.
He commended the red route pilot scheme on the Al in North London: a TRRL survey indicates that off-peak journey times have been reduced by up to 30%. He is also encouraging local authorities to set up more bus lanes.
But the Road Haulage Association is afraid that Rifkind has "missed the point" with its tactics to relieve congestion.
"First there are over 20 million cars and under 250,000 lorries so there will still be a problem with the plans," says RHA operations director Tim Inman.
He is doubtful that a widespread shift on to rail will be possible, with rail only really being effective for journeys of around 250 miles — most lorry trips are about 50 miles.
Although Inman welcomes the Section 8 grant review, he believes operators may be dissuaded from applying for them by the demise of Speedlink — when the Rai'freight Distribution subsidiary stops operating in July BR looks unlikely to offer a wagon load service.
The Freight Transport Association also welcomes the grant review, but says: "The initiatives must be kept in perspective. Even if double the amount of freight was moved by rail, it would still only be equivalent to two month's growth in car traffic," Bibby Distribution Services which already operates a siding says it views rail freight with "a great deal of scepticism because it is an unknown quantity". It would want more details before setting up another railhead.
The Rai[freight Users Group says the increase in grant will have a "marginal effect". Rail has difficulty competing on rates with road haulage on anything less than full train loads and on distances of less than 200 miles, says spokeswoman Julie Clarke. "The main constraint (of hauliers putting freight on to rail) is not the capital cost but the ongoing cost," she adds.
Bill Bowker, chairman of Bowker Transport of Preston, welcomes Rifkind's plan. His company opened a £500,000 private rail siding last July with a .E.200,000 Section 8 grant and is now moving 25,000 tonnes a year by rail.