Alan Whitehead

Labour Party | Southampton Test

WHITEHEAD QUIZES MINISTER ON RAIL FREIGHT IN SOUTHAMPTON

Yesterday in the House of Commons Dr Alan Whitehead, MP for Southampton Test, asked the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly to make a statement on what plans she had to encourage freight transport by rail. The encouragement of this industry is not only an important economic issue for Southampton and the UK, but also a vital environmental one.
The Minister replied that:
“We provide grants to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail, and more than £44 million has been awarded for the next three years. In addition, we are providing more than £150 million from the transport innovation fund for rail infrastructure improvements that particularly benefit rail freight by improving services to and from the major ports, and a further £200 million for the development of a strategic freight network to provide a core network of trunk freight routes.”
Dr Whitehead then went on to press the Secretary of State on encouraging rail freight transport at weekends, citing the key role that the city of Southampton can play in encouraging this industry, saying:
“I thank my right hon. Friend for that encouraging answer. She will be aware of the impending upgrading of the railway track between Southampton and the midlands, which will enable Southampton to develop much greater freight services from the port, but is she also aware that freight services on rail, upgraded or not, generally stop at weekends? Might she seek to find out whether methods could be employed that would enable seven-day working, subject to the maintenance of the railway track?”
Ruth Kelly responded:
“We have allocated £200 million to unlock pinch points for freight services, some of which will help to alleviate the specific problem to which my hon. Friend refers. It is extremely important that over time we try to encourage freight services at weekends as well as during the week.”
Speaking from Westminster after the exchange Dr Whitehead said:
“I am encouraged by the Minister’s response on the issue of increasing the use of rail freight, especially at weekends. According to the Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) domestic freight transport in the UK generates around 33.7 million tonnes of CO2 per year. Road transport accounts for approximately 92% of these domestic freight related CO2 emissions, whereas rail freight accounts for only 1.1%.  Freight On Rail, a group supported by the Campaign for Better Transport estimates that rail freight produces 15 grams of CO2 per ton-kilometre as opposed to heavy goods vehicles such as lorries which produce 180 grams per ton-kilometre. If we are serious about reducing CO2 emissions from transport in the UK it is clear that we must make greater efforts to shift the bulk of our commercial goods transportation from road to rail, as well as encouraging individual people to reduce their carbon footprint.”