UK rail regulator mulls charges that put shift from trucking at risk
2012 05 25
- Details
THE UK's rail regulator has set forward a proposal to set new rail freight charges to cover iron ore, potential biomass and other coal types despite risks of a 10 per cent loss in traffic in 2014, according to the UK's Freight Transport Association.
Proposed charges would send a "negative signal" and make other sectors, such as retailers, who will think again about making a shift to from truck rail, because rail is more expensive than trucking, said FTA policy manager Chris MacRae reports the UK's Transport Intelligence.
"It only works if rail costs and efficiencies can continue on a downward trajectory to compete with road," said Mr MacRae.
The introduction of a marginal price for operators by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) would pay for the maintenance of the network and involve a freight-specific charge for certain industrial sectors, currently only charged to ESI coal for power generation and spent nuclear fuel industries.
By using "variable usage charges" it risks alienating the modal shift from road to rail, said Mr MacRae, who has implemented a campaign called Mode Shift to encourage shippers of goods to freight to use less-polluting means. It has seen the elimination of an equivalent of 6.7 million road journeys and CO2 emissions by 70 per cent compared to trucks.
The consultation period will end August 10 with an industry workshop from ORR to all stakeholders on July 5, registration can be found at www.rail-reg.gov.uk/pr13.
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