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Logistics UK welcomes measures to improve transport connectivity across the UK
Following the publication of Lord Sir Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review in November 2021, which made recommendations to “improve transport connectivity and enhance quality of life and economic opportunities across the UK”, the government published its response on 7 December as a Written Ministerial Statement.
We welcome the investment plans in the statement, including where the main beneficiary is passenger rail as this will create options to release capacity on roads. However, we are disappointed that the government’s response did not mention Lord Hendy’s recommendation of establishing a multi-modal transport network (UKNET) for the whole UK, and we will continue to call for a government deliver to a multimodal national logistics network.
CONNECTIVITY IN WALES
According to Transport Secretary Mark Harper, the proposed Midlands rail hub will be “delivered in full, with investment increased to £1.75 billion to improve journey times, increase capacity and boost frequency of services, benefiting those travelling between Cardiff and Birmingham.”
£2.7 million will be provided to Transport for Wales “to develop options for upgrades to the south Wales main line” and £700,000 “to study options for increasing capacity on the North Wales Main Line.”
CONNECTIVITY IN SCOTLAND
Concerning connectivity north of the English border, Transport Secretary Mark Harper has committed funding for “targeted improvements to the A75 between Gretna and Stranraer, starting with providing £8 million to the Scottish Government to support its business case development.”
Funding has also been committed for “dualling the A1 between Morpeth and Ellingham, helping to improve an important route between England and Scotland” and “funding Network Rail to study options for enhancements to improve capacity and journey times on services between England and Scotland.”
CONNECTIVITY IN NORTHERN IRELAND
For Northern Ireland connectivity, the government will “provide £3.3 million to Translink to deliver a study on the cost, feasibility and value for money of electrification of the railway in Northern Ireland from Belfast to border” and £700,000 to deliver a feasibility study on reopening the Antrim-Lisburn railway line. Additionally, £800,000 will be provided to deliver a feasibility study on reinstating the Portadown to Armagh railway line.
CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE UK
Across the rest of the UK, there will be a “reforming of domestic aviation policy by changing Public Service Obligation (PSO) policy to allow PSOs to operate to and from different regions of the UK, rather than just to and from London as is currently the case.”
The government notes that any future investment decisions will be subject to business case, meaning that where feasibility funding is provided, that does not necessarily mean the schemes will be delivered.
The government also reinforced its commitment to work in partnership with the devolved administrations through a newly relaunched inter-ministerial group for transport.
Published On: 14/12/2023 15:30:00
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In brief
Government announces further £3.9 billion of funding for the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme
To expand track capacity and enable up to 15 extra freight trains to travel per day.
EU to delay tariffs on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) until 2027 but excludes BEV truck tractors
The European Commission proposed on 6 December that tariffs on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) traded between the UK and EU be delayed for three years, rather than introduced in January as they were to be in post-Brexit trade rules.
The proposal for a “one-off extension” to the “rules of origin” tariffs came after the EU’s automotive industry said that it was not ready to achieve what would be needed to avoid the 10% tariff, which is to produce vehicles from locally sourced parts – given car batteries are often sourced from beyond Europe.
However, BEV truck tractors and their batteries are currently excluded from this proposed delay as adding them would entail changing the original EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which is a different and more difficult process.
While the proposed delay is welcome, excluding BEV truck tractors and their batteries could have a highly negative effect on the manufacture and sale of zero emission tailpipe HGVs in Europe, and therefore the decarbonisation of HGV operations.
As such, Logistics UK is contacting key political stakeholders about this matter.
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