East West Rail consultation - additional freight capacity welcomed
Friday 15 November 2024
Responding to the launch of a two-month public consultation on East West Rail and its proposals for a new rail link between Oxford and Cambridge, Logistics UK Senior Policy Advisor, Ellis Shelton says:
“The current freight routes from Felixstowe - one of Britain’s key ports - to the West of England are plagued by delays on the A14 and other roads, so the potential for new freight services on East West Rail should speed up journey times and remove the potential for disruption, improving reliability for customers. The proposed scheme will enable up to 14 new freight services in each direction which would do the job of an estimated 250,000 lorry journeys every year. The proposed new service will also ease congestion on local roads and improve journey times across the region.
“Considering rail freight produces 76% less CO2 per tonne than road transport, rail has a massive role to play in helping the UK reach its net zero targets, which is why we are pressing government continually on investing in the rail freight network.”
The consultation closes on 24 January 2025 and submissions can be made here: East West Rail Consultation
Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please get in touch - here.
