A new report published today by the Freight Transport Association has focused on expected changes in the next 10 years as this is the crucial period before the recommendations in the Eddington Transport Study take effect.

The Eddington Study has recognised the importance of the UK's international gateways - the Freight Future report shows the impact of expected economic growth of these gateways in the future will generate important additional freight flows along key road and rail routes, and these must be protected against delay and congestion caused by the much bigger growth in cars and passenger trains.

Eddington has recognised the need to release bottlenecks as a first step to reducing congestion and improving transport flow. In its Freight Future report, the FTA has identified these UK Trade Routes and seeks urgent action on them by Government - 2015 will be too late a start date.

ROAD - M1, M2, M6, M20, M25 M60, M62, A14, A1(M)
RAIL - West Coast Main Line, Felixstowe - London, Southampton - Birmingham, Felixstowe - Peterborough

The Government needs to protect efficient movement of freight traffic along the Trade Routes through a combination of:

• Capacity improvements and demand management of other traffic.
• Monitoring and maintenance of traffic flows to provide reliable journey times.
• Maximising the use of the networks at night by relaxing nighttime delivery restrictions and better management of maintenance works.

James Hookham, Deputy Chief Executive said, “Forty-five per cent of everything we spend on transport we spend on transporting goods rather than people.

“Protecting freight flows along our key Trade Routes should be a priority for Government that cannot wait for the introduction of road pricing or the other recommendations in the Eddington Transport Study.

”Congestion is the curse of modern logistics, whether on the road or rail network. It disrupts schedules, adds costs, and results in poor service.

“The expected growth in freight traffic over the next ten years is dwarfed by the growth in car traffic and passenger train services. Yet freight movements will be a vital part of the growing, consumer driven economy hoped for by the Chancellor.

“Parts of the existing road and rail networks are already close to capacity. Investment in the Trade Routes to protect these vital freight flows is a justified and urgent requirement.”

Eddington has also referred to the need for further targeted development of key ports and airports, which FTA endorses.

Rising consumer demand for manufactured goods will continue to be met by increased imports. These goods will enter the country mainly through the gateway container ports of Felixstowe, Southampton, and the Thames ports and the freight ferry and shuttle terminals at Dover and Folkestone.

This will result in an increase in goods vehicle journeys of between 1 and 4 per cent a year, and an annual growth of up to 9 per cent in the number of freight trains along the main road and rail routes serving these ports.

The Eddington study also recognises the need for changes to planning to enable infrastructure improvements to be implemented in much shorter timescales; something that the FTA has campaigned for over many years.

A copy of the Freight Future report can be downloaded from:

http://www.fta.co.uk/information/keycampaigns/tenyearplan/freightfuture.pdf