Union Connectivity Review prompts mixed response from Logistics UK

Logistics UK submitted a detailed consultation response to the Review, as well as participating in one of the stakeholder roundtable sessions.

Alex Veitch, General Manager – Public Policy, said: “There are parts of the Interim Report we support, and other parts where we are more cautious. We are pleased it has broadly agreed with the capacity constraints we raised and recognised the importance of strengthening intra-country links.”

These include projects at Carinyran Port, the A1 and A66, east-west connectivity across all modes and the need to ensure High Speed 2 releases freight capacity on the conventional rail network – although we would have liked to see a specific reference to Trans-Pennine rail.

“We are also pleased to see the clear link being made between transport connectivity and economic competitiveness,” Veitch continued, “as well as acknowledgement of the wider economic importance of rail freight.

“Our concerns are centred on the flagship recommendation to replace TEN-T with a UK Network. In our response, we supported funding to replace that lost by the ending of UK involvement in TEN-T but urged a more cautious approach, noting that devolved administration governance arrangements already offer the means to deliver these objectives. We are concerned that these views were not reflected in the Interim Report and will be contacting the Review team to discuss this.”

Sir Peter Hendy was tasked by the Prime Minister with carrying out the Union connectivity review last June (2020). He was reappointed as Chair of the Board of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited and Network Rail Limited by the Transport Secretary last week (Thursday 11 March 2021) for a further two years.

*www.gov.uk/government/collections/union-connectivity-review

Published On: 18/03/2021 17:00:18

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