Archives



Freight News, Rail


Report calls for better northern freight links

[ September 8, 2016   //   ]

Transport for the North called for more freight network capacity to, from and within the North on railways and waterways, strategic freight interchanges and distribution centres and improved links for ports in a report published on 7 September.
The Northern Freight and Logistics Report also called for pinch-points on the road network to be tackled, including the M62 transpennine motorway.
The document was prepared by Mott Macdonald and MDS Transmodal on behalf of Transport for the North, and makes recommendations to support the reduction of the cost of freight transport, expand the global market share for the North in the logistics sector and attract inward private investment into the Northern Powerhouse and UK as a whole.
It pointed out that the North accounts for around a third of UK road, rail, distribution centre and port activity against only 24% of the UK total .
It said that the North’s freight and logistics sector to make a significant contribution of around £35 billion to the Northern Powerhouse by 2060.
Freight Transport Association head of policy for the North of England, Malcolm Bingham welcomed the fact that an important body recognised that public policy and logistics is not just about managing the social impacts of freight, but also about enabling our industry to contribute to economic growth across all sectors. He also concurred with the desire to make the most of our opportunities in rail and water freight, but added: “However, the majority of road freight is unsuited to any other mode so any full plan must involve enabling road movements to improve their record too.
“While the Report is rail and port oriented, it does accept this – setting out a number of road improvements that will also be needed.”

Tags: ,