FTA Calling for Reduction in Rail Freight Charges
The FTA (Freight Transport Association) is backing the Europeans Commissions call to address the issue of extortionate Channel tunnel rail freight charges.
As a result of the rail freight charges more freight is being carried by Lorries and generating more traffic as well as harmful emissions according the EC vice president Siim Kallas. He also said that “the tunnel was not being used to full capacity due to high track access charges and the tunnel regulator, the Intergovernmental Commission did not have sufficient powers to act on its own initiative”.
2,325 freight trains passed through the Channel tunnel in 2012 (excluding Eurotunnel- operated shuttle services) compared to 2,718 in 2008. The charges are at least €3,645 one way to use the tunnel and the EC feels that these prices need revising and eventually lowered. Chris Welch, the general manager for the FTA said that the prices need to change to promote the use of rail freight. A report conducted by the FTA in 2011 suggested that if 640,000 unit loads a year transferred to rail, then approximately 250,000 tonnes of CO2 would be saved. The UK and France now have two months to respond to the EC’s call.
For more information visit the European Commission website.
As a result of the rail freight charges more freight is being carried by Lorries and generating more traffic as well as harmful emissions according the EC vice president Siim Kallas. He also said that “the tunnel was not being used to full capacity due to high track access charges and the tunnel regulator, the Intergovernmental Commission did not have sufficient powers to act on its own initiative”.
2,325 freight trains passed through the Channel tunnel in 2012 (excluding Eurotunnel- operated shuttle services) compared to 2,718 in 2008. The charges are at least €3,645 one way to use the tunnel and the EC feels that these prices need revising and eventually lowered. Chris Welch, the general manager for the FTA said that the prices need to change to promote the use of rail freight. A report conducted by the FTA in 2011 suggested that if 640,000 unit loads a year transferred to rail, then approximately 250,000 tonnes of CO2 would be saved. The UK and France now have two months to respond to the EC’s call.
For more information visit the European Commission website.
