Opinion
and Beattock summits. Even now there are concerns about pathing extra freight trains on a two track mixed use network over the northern WCML over Shap and Beattock. But when more fast inter-city passenger train services are potentially added to the mix this becomes harder (or impossible?). It must be remembered that the southern WCML has benefited from investment in the Trent Valley Four Tracking Scheme (TV4) that increased capacity and extended the southern four track section of WCML further north. The UK government has been and is
investing in Britain’s rail network via the Strategic Freight Network Fund to enhance the network for freight. Control Period 4 2009-2014 saw £200 million invested and a similar fund exists for CP5 2014-2019. This has included intermodal container gauge clearance for increasingly common 9’6” ISO shipping containers and route capacity and train lengthening works on core and diversionary routes. This is all about ensuring connectivity for trade in Britain with the southern gateway ports. For Scotland these ports are its gateway too for global trade, particularly whisky, so links to them are crucial given that the major shipping lines, particularly on the East–West global trades, do not want to come further north
than the south coast. The alternative modes are coastal feedering ship or motorway. Therefore concern exists about future freight capacity on the northern WCML. Against that background it is vital that plans for gauge clearance of the northern East Coast Main Line via the Edinburgh Suburban Circle route then across to Mossend and Coatbridge Scottish central belt proceed to ensure
connectivity for Scotland via alternate routing. So, let’s be clear: while HS2 is about a
passenger railway and passenger benefits, it has implications for freight. •
Chris MacRae is manager, Rail Freight Policy and head of Policy, Scotland at the Freight Transport Association
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November 2013 Page 39
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