News Release : 29 January 2004

Building on Regional Rail Freight Potential

Freight on Rail and the South East England Regional Assembly are jointly organising a rail freight event for local authorities in the region on Thursday 5 February. The aim of the event is to raise the profile with local authorities of the opportunities available to encourage greater use of the rail system for freight movements. Although the amount of freight carried by rail has increased in recent years, there remains considerable potential for further growth.

Delegates attending the seminar will examine the opportunities presented by the Regional Transport Strategy to realise the potential for freight on rail. They will also focus on the importance of rail freight links serving the international gateway ports within the South East region as well as linkages to continental Europe. Delegates will visit the Colnbrook rail freight terminal set-up for the construction of Heathrow Terminal 5.

Martin Tugwell, Head of Regional Transport Planning at the South East England Regional Assembly, commented: “We need to highlight the opportunities to use rail for freight transport as part of an integrated approach to transport. Through partnerships between organisations in the public and private sector ‘freight on rail’ could be a successful and economically viable option. ”

Campaign co-ordinator Philippa Edmunds said: “ We are very keen to help local authorities promote rail freight and are conscious of the obstacles they face. These events, where the industry can make constructive comments as well as listening to the issues authorities face, are designed to help this process.
Feedback from previous events held in the West Midlands, the North East and Yorkshire and Humber regions, has been very favourable. Freight on Rail tailors each event to the individual region’s requirements. We really appreciate the regions’ support and look forward to planning further events in the regions.”

Freight on Rail, a partnership between the rail freight operators, the Rail Freight Group, Network Rail, the transport trade unions and Transport 2000, concentrates on working with local and regional authorities to foster rail freight interests as part of a more sustainable distribution system.

Contact

Philippa Edmunds: Tel 020 8241 9982 Email philippa@freightonrail.org.uk

Notes to editors:

Freight on Rail

1. Freight on Rail, a partnership between transport trades unions, ASLEF, RMT and TSSA, the rail freight operators EWS, Freightliner, GB Railfreight, Network Rail, the Rail Freight Group and Transport 2000, works to promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of rail freight both nationally and locally. It advocates policy changes that support the shift to rail and provides information and help on freight related issues. In particular, it aims to help local and regional authorities through all stages of the process such as planning a rail-freight strategy, accessing grants and dealing with technical matters.

South East England Regional Assembly

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007