Rail Freight Group concerns over possible modal grant cut

By Joshua Brown from Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom – 90048 Passes Stratford, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18665659

The Rail Freight Group says it is ‘concerned’ at suggestions the budget for rail freight grants in the UK could be reduced. It follows a report that the Government’s mode shift revenue support (MSRS) grant had been cut by a fifth and could be reduced again.

This could mean British roads are hit by up to 190,000 extra lorry journeys every year, as hauliers and logistics companies would find it increasingly expensive to transport goods by rail, according to the Sunday Times.

The MSRS, it says, had been cut by over a fifth, from 19.9 million Pounds to 15.7 million Pounds this April. It will be cut again, claims the report, to 15.2 million Pounds in 2018/2019. The Department for Transport, which oversees the fund, has not commented on the report.

Potential implications

However Maggie Simpson, Executive Director of the RFG, which represents the interests of and campaigns on behalf of rail freight operators, said: “We are concerned at the potential implications of the decision to reduce the budget for rail freight grants, and have been in discussion with Department for Transport to highlight the issues.

“The overall need for grant support has been reducing over time as rail freight has improved its efficiency, but some routes, in particular the newer retail services still need this vital help.

Grant budget

“The Government’s recently published Rail Freight Strategy sets out their support for rail freight, and reinstating the grant budget would be a welcome demonstration of their commitment,” she added.

MSRS assists companies with the operating costs associated with running rail or inland water freight transport instead of road, where rail or inland waterway transport is more expensive. It’s designed to facilitate and support modal shift, generating environmental and wider social benefits from reduced lorry journeys on Britain’s roads.

The latest round of combined passenger & freight statistics published by the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) show that there was a fall in the percentage of freight trains arriving at their destination within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, 93.3 per cent down from 94.8, in the last quarter of 2016 (October to December).  The next round of statistics detailing just rail freight performance over the period are due to be published by the ORR at the end of February.

Author: Simon Weedy

Simon is a journalist for RailFreight.com - a dedicated online platform for all the news about the rail freight sector

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Rail Freight Group concerns over possible modal grant cut | RailFreight.com

Rail Freight Group concerns over possible modal grant cut

By Joshua Brown from Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom – 90048 Passes Stratford, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18665659

The Rail Freight Group says it is ‘concerned’ at suggestions the budget for rail freight grants in the UK could be reduced. It follows a report that the Government’s mode shift revenue support (MSRS) grant had been cut by a fifth and could be reduced again.

This could mean British roads are hit by up to 190,000 extra lorry journeys every year, as hauliers and logistics companies would find it increasingly expensive to transport goods by rail, according to the Sunday Times.

The MSRS, it says, had been cut by over a fifth, from 19.9 million Pounds to 15.7 million Pounds this April. It will be cut again, claims the report, to 15.2 million Pounds in 2018/2019. The Department for Transport, which oversees the fund, has not commented on the report.

Potential implications

However Maggie Simpson, Executive Director of the RFG, which represents the interests of and campaigns on behalf of rail freight operators, said: “We are concerned at the potential implications of the decision to reduce the budget for rail freight grants, and have been in discussion with Department for Transport to highlight the issues.

“The overall need for grant support has been reducing over time as rail freight has improved its efficiency, but some routes, in particular the newer retail services still need this vital help.

Grant budget

“The Government’s recently published Rail Freight Strategy sets out their support for rail freight, and reinstating the grant budget would be a welcome demonstration of their commitment,” she added.

MSRS assists companies with the operating costs associated with running rail or inland water freight transport instead of road, where rail or inland waterway transport is more expensive. It’s designed to facilitate and support modal shift, generating environmental and wider social benefits from reduced lorry journeys on Britain’s roads.

The latest round of combined passenger & freight statistics published by the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) show that there was a fall in the percentage of freight trains arriving at their destination within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, 93.3 per cent down from 94.8, in the last quarter of 2016 (October to December).  The next round of statistics detailing just rail freight performance over the period are due to be published by the ORR at the end of February.

Author: Simon Weedy

Simon is a journalist for RailFreight.com - a dedicated online platform for all the news about the rail freight sector

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.