Media centre

Tuesday 5 Sep 2006

INCREASE IN FREIGHT DEMAND PREDICTED

Region & Route:

National

Consumers, retailers and the freight industry are being asked to consider how the rail network can best meet a growth of more than 30% in demand for freight services over the next 10 years. An assessment of future demand, together with a series of options that could help meet it, is set out in the draft Freight Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS), which Network Rail launched for consultation today. Chief Executive, John Armitt, said: “Freight services are the backbone of Britain, keeping our lights on and our shops stocked by transporting coal to power stations and everything from furniture, food and clothes to our retailers.  The rail industry has worked together to assess future demand, and predicts a 30% increase in the amount of rail freight over the next 10 years, which equates to an additional 120 trains per day by 2015. “We have identified the gaps that exist in meeting this future demand, and we are now consulting on the options that could fill them.  “We are asking everyone involved in freight services including retailers, terminal owners and operators, British ports and freight operators – to tell us their future planning and give us their views on the options for meeting the increased demand.  Their views will help inform further refinement and assessment of the options for the final strategy, which will be published in spring 2007.” Over the past five years, the level of freight traffic on the rail network has already increased by 22%.  The draft RUS predicts that this is set to grow even further, in line with an increase in the level of imported coal and other goods.  The draft Freight RUS outlines a series of options for increasing capacity, ranging from minor timetable alterations to large scale infrastructure enhancements: 

• Timetable alterations –changes to existing timetables for freight services could create more capacity without the need for infrastructure enhancements
• Haulage alterations – for example, moving from diesel to electric powered haulage to improve freight train speeds and performance over gradients
• Routeing alternatives – changing the routeing could free up capacity on the original route
• Train lengthening – longer trains could transport more freight per train without increasing the weight of each wagon on the track
• Additional or longer loops – these freight ‘lay-bys’ could provide additional capacity
• Signalling – more, or more modern, signalling could allow trains to operate closer together and thereby increase capacity
• Axle weight improvements – these could allow more freight per wagon without requiring more capacity
• Gauge schemes – increasing the space in tunnels and under bridges could allow larger wagons to operate
• Bespoke infrastructure –new lines, doubling track and electrification could provide significant increases in capacity

On many of the routes, growth in demand – and therefore the need for enhancements – will be incremental.  And in many cases, capacity growth will be achieved through a combination of options.  For example: increasing freight capacity on the Carlisle to Lancaster route could be achieved by a combination of haulage alternatives, train lengthening, routeing alternatives and loop enhancements. The draft RUS also looks at the growth in ‘intermodal’ traffic to and from ports in the south east, which is putting increasing pressure on capacity on the Great Eastern Main Line (Ipswich to London), the cross London routes and parts of the West Coast Main Line.  The draft RUS proposes gauge enhancement and capacity upgrades to the Felixstowe to Nuneaton cross country route by 2015 to relieve congestion on the Great Eastern Main Line and north London lines. It also looks at the continued shift from domestic coal production to imported fuel and considers two scenarios for this key activity.

• Scenario one is a continued increase in the amount of imported coal into Hunterston port on the west coast of Scotland, and continued extraction from the mines in Ayrshire, resulting in more coal travelling from Scotland to England
• Scenario two is an increase in imports through the east coast ports, which result in a rise in demand for freight services from these ports

The draft RUS proposes a range of small and medium scale schemes that would deliver additional capacity to and from the ports in these scenarios.  These include train lengthening, and track and signalling options on routes from the north east ports and Ayrshire to the Aire and Trent Valley power stations.The final strategy will offer the collective view of the industry and key stakeholders about the best ways of meeting greater demand for freight.  Of the options that have cost implications, each will be subject to a rigorous assessment so it can demonstrate value for money.  The funding of such options is dealt with outwith the RUS process.  The strategy allows the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to consider the key options for meeting freight growth when considering expenditure on the rail network, and will help inform the High Level Output Specifications by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport Scotland, and will provide strategic context for Transport Innovation Fund decisions. The Freight RUS is a central part of the on-going RUS programme, which Network Rail is leading on behalf of the rail industry.  The Freight RUS compliments the geographical RUSs – including those that have already been published (the South West Main Line RUS, the Cross London RUS and the draft Scotland RUS), and those that have yet to be completed (particularly the East Coast Main Line RUS, which is underway, and the West Coast Main Line RUS, which begins next year). John Armitt said: “Network Rail is pleased and proud to be leading the RUS programme on behalf of the rail industry, seeking solutions to achieving a world class rail freight network in Britain .  This is our fourth RUS since being asked to take on this responsibility by the Government.  As the infrastructure operator for the entire rail network, we are uniquely well-placed to lead the Freight RUS in particular as it affects all routes, all operators and a wide variety of key stakeholders including retailers and British ports.” The consultation period on the draft Freight RUS will last 12 weeks, responses are due on or before 24 November 2006.  The document is available in full on Network Rail’s website www.networkrail.co.uk.