Government Must Opt for Rail

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th Apr 2000

Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat Euro MP for Eastern England, has attacked Railtrack for their decision to double user charges for rail freight. Andrew Duff has written to Railtrack to deplore the change of tack, which, he said, "runs in completely the wrong direction and threatens the region's attempts to build decent transport infrastructure for rail and road users alike".

Andrew Duff added:

"The government must reject Railtrack's request to put up freight charges by 25%. Instead of raising access charges, Railtrack's policy should be to increase its investment in the freight infrastructure, especially from Felixstowe and Harwich ports to the West in order to relieve traffic congestion on the M25 and A14.

"The government must help Railtrack increase the volume of freight it carries. This would conform to European Union policy, which is to shift freight from road to rail.

"Will the government commit its new Strategic Rail Authority to making it possible for manufacturers - such as Vauxhall at Luton - to use the railways? If not, all claims to developing sustainable transport policies will be exposed as sheer nonsense".

Railtrack has announced that it wants to double the average user charge, which makes up about a quarter of the total operators' cost, from £2 to £4 per tonne/km. It is also seeking to raise the charge for surplus by £3 per tonne/km.