1st November 2011
Freight on Rail welcomes the Government’s Regional Growth Fund 1 approval for the re-opening of the Stoke on Trent to Cauldon Lowe Railway line which has the potential to connect five quarries to the rail network via the West Coast Main Line. The single line which runs 20 miles, while currently mothballed, is still complete and could be operational next year.
Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail Manager said: “Road congestion is now costing £23-24 billion per annum 2 Each train out of the 5 quarries could remove up to 160 long distance HGVs from our roads 3. This project ticks all the right economic, safety and environmental boxes to reduce road congestion and create green jobs in an area which needs Government regeneration support.”
She added: “Shifting long distance freight off the road onto rail, which produces 70% less carbon dioxide emissions than the equivalent road journey 4, is essential if we are to reduce transport’s carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 and control climate change 5.”
Notes:
1. The £1.65 million grant - the only one awarded to a railway nationally for passenger and freight services - recognises the project 's major impact on creating employment opportunities in North Staffordshire. Five major stone, slate and limestone quarries, Alton Towers and the town of Leek will benefit form direct rail access. Second round approval for bids for the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), were announced by BIS on 31st October.
2. Freight Transport Association using DfT figures Journal November 2011
3. Network Rail Value of Freight July 2011
4. DfT Logistics Perspective Dec 2008 P8 section 10
5. DfT factsheet, UK Transport and Climate Change data,
2. Freight Transport Association using DfT figures Journal November 2011
3. Network Rail Value of Freight July 2011
4. DfT Logistics Perspective Dec 2008 P8 section 10
5. DfT factsheet, UK Transport and Climate Change data,
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