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Issue 7 2015 - Freight Business Journal


///NEWS


Channel rail freight measures have no teeth


The Rail Freight Group has written to Prime Minister David Cameron complaining that services through the Channel Tunnel are being more seriously affected than ever before by the ongoing crisis at Calais, and the failure of the UK and French Governments to deal with disruption from migrants. The promised better fence is


not now due for completion until December, more than six months aſter the present crisis began. While some improved protection is in place and security increased with police and dogs this is insufficient since the migrants are increasing their efforts to invade the rail facility and disrupt freight services. Sending more dogs is of limited help since the migrants


have learned that the dogs are not allowed to bite people, says RFG. Despite the efforts of


customers, rail freight operators and Eurotunnel to work round the disruptions, train reliability has plummeted and some business has already been lost to road, which can use other ports not targeted to the same extent by migrants.


DB Schenker puts little store by Freightliner promises


DB Schenker Rail UK has welcomed the Office of Rail and Road Regulation’s (ORR) preliminary findings on its consultation on access to deep sea container ports in the UK but is not convinced of rival operator Freightliner’s response to it. DB Schenker made a formal


complaint to the ORR in June 2013 over what it described as “very significant barriers to competition” in the market between key UK ports and inland


destinations. Chief executive, Geoff


Spencer, said: “We want to see the relevant markets opened up and operating efficiently for the benefit of the industry and customers but we are concerned that the commitments offered by Freightliner in response to the ORR’s investigation will not achieve this. It is our view that changes should be made to the proposed commitments to ensure they are genuinely


comprehensive in addressing ORR’s competition concerns, specifically with regards to rail access at the ports. “We are grateful for the


thoroughness and speed with which the ORR has conducted its investigation. Having achieved so much in the investigation to date, it would be a great shame if the investigation concluded with a decision that failed to resolve the competition concerns the ORR has identified.”


Rail group urges end to freight scheme standstill


The Rail Freight Group (RFG) has called on Government


to


urgently confirm that key rail upgrades for freight are to go ahead as planned, following the announcement on 30 September that the Midland Main Line and Transpennine electrification schemes are to be ‘unpaused’. Key freight schemes presently


amongst those included in Sir Peter Hendy’s review of Network Rail’s enhancement programme include the upgrade of the Felixstowe to Nuneaton


route, work to enable longer trains to run from the Port of Southampton and improved links to the new container terminal and biomass facility at the Port of Liverpool. RFG says that the uncertainty


created by the review is causing concern for freight operators and customers. To date, a planned upgrade of freight


capacity


between Ely and Soham has been cancelled, and other schemes are believed to be delayed. RFG executive director, Maggie


Simpson, said: “We understand the funding pressures facing Network Rail across their enhancement programme, and the work underway to resolve this. But the freight sector has waited long enough for confirmation that these critical schemes can go ahead as planned, and deliver


the


expected benefits. With progress today announced on other key schemes, Government should make the same commitment for freight.”


Call for more rail freight priority in Europe


European forwarders’ association CLECAT and the European Shippers’ Council (ESC) have written to the European Commission, warning of a potential


lack of capacity for


international freight trains on major routes. The associations urge Member States to give priority to international freight trains in order


to ensure the proper functioning of rail freight corridors and to increase the market share for international rail freight. ESC secretary general Nik Delmeire, noted: “At present, there is a tendency to only reserve capacity for national/ passenger traffic which is worrying our shipper members who need sufficient capacity.”


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