The Rail Freight Group (RFG) has welcomed the publication by the Department for Transport (DfT) of Policy Guidance on Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges, announced as part of The Logistics Growth Review.
The Guidance, which has been laid before Parliament, was announced in a joint written statement from the Secretary-of-State for Transport Justine Greening MP, and Eric Pickles MP, the Secretary-of-State for Communities and Local Government.
Greening stated: “The Government supports the transfer of freight from road to rail, where it is practical and economic to do so and fully recognises that rail freight can generate valuable benefits for society where it provides an alternative to road haulage.”
She went on to comment: “The Government believes that an expanded network of SRFIs, complemented by other freight interchanges and terminals, is needed to support longer-term development of efficient rail freight distribution logistics.
“Whilst SRFIs operate to serve regional and cross regional catchment areas, they are also key components in national and international networks.”
The development of Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges is ‘vital for growing rail freight and in ensuring UK businesses have access to robust and efficient supply chains’.
Such facilities also generate ‘large numbers of jobs, both during construction and in operation’.
The publication of this guidance will help to ‘simplify the planning process for developers, and will help them to progress key schemes which have been ‘on hold’ since the abolition of regional special strategies in 2010’.
RFG Chairman, Tony Berkeley, said:
“This Guidance is a clear and welcome statement of Government commitment to rail freight.
“Strategic rail freight interchanges are vital if we are to develop efficient and cost effective rail solutions as part of modern logistics chains, and there is an urgent need to develop more facilities, particularly in the south east.
“We are particularly pleased that the Guidance has the support not just of DfT but also of Treasury and of DCLG.”
The publication comes on the same day that Chancellor George Osborne announced the Government would be investing £55m into the Strategic Rail Freight Network, as part of his Autumn Statement.
He said the funding would help deliver schemes that remove bottlenecks and improve capability and longer term connectivity to the UK’s major ports.
The additional investment will be used to double the track between Ely and Soham, and to gauge clear the route between Syston Junction and Stoke; promoting the growth of rail usage on vital links to deep sea ports.
RFG Policy Manager Maggie Simpson welcomed the news saying:
“Investment in the Strategic Freight Network is helping rail operators to grow their businesses and become more efficient. This additional investment will deliver welcome benefits for the sector.”
