SRA must heed rail freight requirements

The test of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is to deliver an upgraded West Coast Main Line (WCML) which has the additional capacity required for rail freight growth. If the SRA fails on this test then a key part of its Strategic Plan will be called into question.” That was the statement made by Graham Smith. planning director of rail freight operator EWS at the recent National Rail Conference in London.

The SRA’s Strategic Plan for the future of the railway was published in January, set out a series of measures to improve Britain’s rail network and ensure the Government’s growth targets are met. The Plan outlines how improvements for passengers and freight customers will be delivered in the short and medium term, as well as setting
out long term ideas for the next decade.

Smith added, “the Government and the SRA said on the launch of the Strategic Plan that they are committed to an 80 percent growth in rail freight by 2010.

“In order to achieve that, the rail network needs to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Rail freight needs to be as flexible as road in order to compete for new business.

“Capacity enhancements are crucial in order to grow rail freight to meet Government targets, and the WCML is absolutely vital to getting that growth.”

The enhancement of the WCML requires a genuinely inclusive solution which gives all operators — be they freight, regional passenger or long-distance passenger operators — something that meets their requirements. The Government agrees that the WCML needs to have rail
freight capacity built into it. Stephen Byers, the secretary of state, said on 15 January 2002 at the All Party West Coast Group meeting in the Westminster Parliament: “The West Coast Main Line is crucial to achieving the targets on freight.”

Speaking on the importance of the WCML to rail freight, Mr. Smith said, “the WCML is essential for rail freight. The WCML links Scotland, the North West with the Midlands, London and the South East and the Channel Tunnel, and connects the major places of production and consumption in Britain.

“Forty three percent of all rail freight is dependent upon the WCML for its journey and the Government and SRA’s transport targets cannot be met unless the WCML has the

capacity to accommodate rail freight growth. “The route carries mail and express parcels, deep sea containers, coal, steel, stone, oil and international traffic from Italy, Spain, France and Germany.”

He continued: “In order to achieve the 80 percent growth target capacity needs to be built into the WCML

“Currently there are 43 freight trains in both directions on the WCML each day. These will increase to 93 by 2006 and 118 by 2011. “If freight is pushed off the network by the SRA in order to meet the needs of long-distance and cross-country passenger services, the prospects

for Britain are dire given the contribution that rail freight makes to the British economy and environment. “EWS has invested £750 million, including £350 million in new locomotives, in its rail freight operations. These investments will be wasted if there is no growth in rail freight on the WCML and the SRA’s Strategic Plan will therefore have to be totally re-written.

“Businesses will suffer because of increased road congestion and higher transport costs. Around four million lorry journeys a year could return to the roads.” Concluding, Graham Smith said: “The WCML cannot be upgraded solely for one operator’s services. If the SRA is serious about a measured and sensible revival of rail in Britain it will work to ensure that rail freight needs are met by the upgrade of the WCML. If it passes rail freight by. it will have failed in its duties.”