FREIGHT FIGURES MISLEADING – FOSTER

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Jun 2003

The use of rail freight has declined across Britain according to new research released by the Liberal Democrats. But favourable figures published today by the Department of Transport stops short of highlighting the start of a downward trend of rail freight during 2002.

Figures for 2002 show that rail freight moved has actually decreased by 0.3 billion tonne kilometres, and the market share for rail freight has declined in comparison with Heavy Goods Vehicles.

Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, said:

"Despite Government figures highlighting the increase in rail freight throughout the 1990s, rail freight has actually declined in the past year."

"Transferring freight from road to rail has strong safety and environmental benefits and helps tackle the congestion that costs British business £20bn a year.

"The Government's promise to increase rail freight by 80% has already been compromised – it is set to be another missed target."

"If the Government wants to get the rail freight industry back on track they should start by doing everything they can to keep mail on the rails.

"Rail freight has a crucial role to play if the nation is to have the safe, reliable and affordable transport system it deserves."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Focus on Freight 2003, released today by the Department for Transport, shows a steady increase in the quantity of rail freight moved from 13 billion tonne kilometres in 1994 to 19 billion tonne kilometres in 2001 – but does not give figures for 2002.

2. Figures for 2002 show that rail freight moved has decreased by 0.3 billion tonne kilometres, and the market share for rail freight has declined in comparison with HGVs [compiled from 'Transport Trends 2003' and 'Transport of Goods by Road in Great Britain: 2002'].

3. The Government's Ten Year Plan set a target of 80% rail freight growth by 2010.

4. On the 31 March 2003, Network Rail published its Business Plan forecasting a much lesser rise in rail freight – just 37% - and over a longer period.

5. On 6 June 2003, Royal Mail announced plans to transfer its operations from the rail network to the roads.