Freight News, Logistics

Welsh freight report published

[ May 13, 2014   //   Chris ]

The Welsh Government’s Freight Task and Finish Group has published its report on the future of the sector; Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport at Welsh Government, said that she will accept its recommendations.

These include developing intermodal freight networks, improving key trunk routes such as the A55 expressway to Holyhead and the ‘import raod’ linking the Holyhead port area with the A55. The Welsh Government should also take into accouint the potential for intermodal freight networks when developing land use plans and to take account for the potential for freight processing activities before disposing of port land.

The Welsh Government added that it would support reintroduction of lo lo container services at Holyhead- discontinued in the 1980s when Sealink axed its Holyhead Ireland link – although it recognises that Liverpool now has a dominant share of this traffic.

The Rail Freight Group welcomed the publication of the report on 13 May, pointing out that many of the 24 recommendations support increasing the use of rail freight, and of multimodal transport, and will help to inform the Welsh Government’s National Transport Plan for Wales, due for publication in March 2015.

Robin Smith, RFG’s Welsh representative said: “We welcome this report which will help to shape the future of rail freight in Wales. We are pleased to have been part of the Task and Finish Group, and now look forward to working with Welsh Government, Network Rail and the UK Department for Transport in taking forward the recommended actions as a means of improving rail’s share of the freight market in Wales.”

 

Tags: Rail Freight Group, RFG, Wales