10


NEWS


Is there a conspiracy to keep rail freight out of the Channel Tunnel?


The Rail Freight Group (RFG) said it was outraged at suggestions by three French Members of the European Parliament for the Channel Tunnel to be exempted from European railway competition laws.


The proposed amendments in the Recast of the First Railway Package, currently wending its way through the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, would exempt Eurotunnel from all open access, interoperability, and equitable charging requirements, on the grounds that the tunnel operator is a private company.


RFG said: “This is certainly a curious legal interpretation and one which, if accurate, would have wide- reaching consequences across the UK


rail network and beyond.” It adds that some members of the Inter Governmental Commission (IGC) that regulates the Channel Tunnel have made similar statements in the past although there is no evidence


that they have been


directly involved in placing the latest amendments. Tony Berkeley, the RFG chairman,


added: “Long term financial success will never be achieved through an archaic form of protectionism. Only by allowing Eurotunnel and train operators to grow their businesses through free and open competition will it ever have a chance of succeeding. We urge all MEPs to oppose this amendment vigorously.” In a paper outlining the situation


and why it could seriously damage the growth of the UK’s international rail freight market, RFG added that the UK and French Governments are already in some trouble. The European Commission has started investigations


into whether they


are complying with the existing legislation in failing to implement independent regulation, separation of accounts between train operations and infrastructure management. Train operators complain not only about the high cost of using the Tunnel but also the unique technical standards which prevent innovation and competition, which might lead to infraction proceedings against the two governments, says RFG. There are no such requirements for other


long tunnels, such as the Lötschberg or Gotthard base tunnels.


It adds that it suspects that neither government wants to turn the Tunnel into a normal part of the European rail network, on which competition services could operate at reasonable rates, and there were no special rules.


RFG suggests that there is a conspiracy by the two Governments to keep things as they are, with just five freight trains a day and severe restrictions on who can compete with the Eurostar passenger services, because it is all too difficult or potentially expensive for Governments. On the other hand, it is possible that it is “just a cock-up”, it adds.


Committee slams Govt trade policy


A House of Commons Business Innovation and Skills Committee criticised several aspects of the government’s trade policy. A report published on 11 July said it was unimpressed with the pace of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ policy formation and in


particular the delay in publishing the UK Trade International (UKTI)’s strategy for business support. It also criticised the delay in appointing a new trade minister and chief executive for UKTI.


The Committee also said it was concerned about the reduction in


funding available to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. There was also widespread criticism of the government-run trade credit and insurance agency ECGD, in particular its over-heavy emphasis on the aerospace sector.


While this had been rectified with


four new schemes to help exporters get access to credit and insure themselves in


the Government’s


Trade White Paper, ECGD would “have to make significant efforts to restore business faith in its operations and re-engage with all sectors of the economy,” the report said.


Logistics Academy funds confirmed


Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, John Hayes confirmed Government funding for the National Skills Academy for Logistics on 5 July.


It would directly address businesses’


training requirements, from basic skills through to advanced leadership and management, and provide effective, targeted support, he said. Managing director of the Port of Tilbury and Forth Ports executive


director, Perry Glading - a member of the employer team leading on the proposal - added: “Confirmation that the bid has been successful means that up to £3.25m will be available through the Skills Funding Agency


and will be matched by employer investment in the Skills Academy. This will be a tremendous step in the right direction making sure that we have enough skilled people working in the sector.”


Alliance takes Northrop in-house


The Alliance Group has signed a deal with marine and military technology specialist Northrop Sperry Grumman in the US to operate the forwarder’s in-house ‘client interface’ service for logistics, letters of credit, invoicing stock management and multimodal cargo despatch.


Alliance directors Gary Waller and David Tighe said the deal was


one of many contracts that started life as an in-house’ arrangement where employee shipping or logistics managers are not replaced following their departure. Alliance offers a two-tier service based on an in-house ‘implant’ manager to run the department in the absence of a suitable manager while it assists the client


in finding a replacement or total absorption of the shipping and logistics function into Alliance’s own in-house logistics department. Alliance will prepare a report on the logistics department following the introduction of an implant manager and either recommend recruiting


additional staff or reducing or closing the logistics department.


The Northrup case invoked TUPE employment regulations, which had been handled by Alliance’s own HR department, said David Tighe. Alliance as the new employer had accepted the liability for existing staff member contracts and offered them similar employment at its own group locations.


Skills boost for Ghana & Senegal


The KNUST School of Business in Ghana has launched a World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) Agricultural Logistics Skill Development Programme, funded by Safmarine and ADM Cocoa.


The aim is to equip selected youths with post-secondary


education with knowledge


and understanding of logistics, supply chain, warehousing and socio-economic issues, qualifying them for employment in the agriculture industry as logistics and


warehousing technicians.


Around 30 students have enrolled for the first phase of the


programme. Safmarine’s global sustainability manager, Larisa Thuije said: “As a member of the WCF, and given Safmarine’s long involvement with our customers in the cocoa trade, we are keen on promoting sustainable development through


education.”


In another initiative, DHL and Safmarine have joined forces to create the first community library in Kolda, Senegal. The new Kolda Community Library provides free access to French school books in a purpose-built 95m2 building.


Safmarine CEO Tomas Dyrbye cuts the ribbon on the new library ROUND-UP:


FORWARDING & LOGISTICS Geodis Wilson is opening an 8,500 square metre distribution centre in


Jebel Ali South in Dubai free zone as part of its drive to extend its freight forwarding services to a full-service contract logistics model in the Middle East.


World Transport Agency has bought Feltham-based GCS Freight, following the decision of the latter’s owners, Andrew Moore and Ken Sanger, to retire. WTA said it would “take on the wealth of experience” of the existing GCS team, adding that it was “excited at the prospect of developing a good working relationship with all customers and supporters of GCS Freight.


Schenker has signed a deal on new 9,900sq m premises at London Heathrow adjacent to its current premises. Building work at the Portal site will start in 2012 with completion scheduled for mid year, subject to planning consent. The building will feature air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting and a heat recovery ventilation system.


ISSUE 4 2011


ROUND-UP: RAIL


Irish Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar officially opened a new €1.5 million, 1.6km rail spur in Dublin Port on 13 July. It eliminates the need for loading and unloading on Alexandra Road. The first customer of the new facility is International Warehousing and Transport and it is expected that the current IWT service will increase from four to five trains per week to Ballina.


Developers have given the green light to the £400 million Rossington Inland Port near Doncaster. Building work work on the site is expected to begin in 2012, which is being jointly constructed Helios Europe, Shepherd Developments and Segro. It will include a major mail terminal as well as bonded warehouses and other facilities, along with a direct link to the M18. Developers have also been discussing rail connections to Felixstowe with port operator Hutchison Whampoa. Meanwhile, St Albans District Council has suspended an appeal against Helioslough’s plans to develop a freight terminal at Radlett Aerodrome.


The Eurotunnel Group has bought the five remaining Class 92 locomotives from French rail operator SNCF, bringing its fleet to 16. The Class 92 is the only freight locomotive authorised for use in the Channel Tunnel, but it can also operate on most electrified routes in the UK and France.


DB Schenker Rail (UK) has appointed Dr Carsten Hinne as managing director logistics. He was previously vice president of strategy at DB Schenker Rail.


Network Rail is to upgrade a second route out of Southampton docks for 9’6” high-cube containers, allowing trains to be diverted off the main route when it is unavailable.


Intermodal rail freight grew 3% year-on-year growth in 2010/11, with total volumes moved at 5.68bn net tonne km, said the Rail Freight Group. This is the eighth consecutive year of growth and confirms containerised freight as the biggest commodity on rail.


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