RFG welcomes the launch yesterday of the Eurorail Freight Route, a proposal for a new line dedicated for freight linking Glasgow to London and the Channel Tunnel.

This route would use mainly closed lines or existing formations with only 4 miles of new line required, and would be designed primarily for freight, with maximum of 100 mph 750 m long trains, 25 tonne axle loads, high gauge to double stack containers but using conventional designs.  The scheme is designed to be built in phases, connecting to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Barking and to many other parts of Network Rail’s network.  

Railway engineers Andy Berry and Tim Brown, Scottish road freight haulier Ken Russell and Kelvin Hopkins MP for Luton North lead the EuroRail Freight Group promoting the scheme. 

Details of the scheme are on a series of press releases from the EuroRail Freight Group, and which will be posted for information on RFG’s website www.rfg.org.uk for a period.

RFG Chairman Tony Berkeley welcomed the launch of this project, commenting ‘this is a visionary scheme; our demand forecasts indicate that there will be a serious excess of demand over supply of capacity quite soon on many routes.   This scheme has the ability to remove some freight from congested main lines and operate services more efficiently and quickly.

‘Being a freight-only or freight priority scheme of comparatively low speed, built mainly on existing unused formations, it can be built very much more cheaply than high speed passenger lines.  The promoters cost it at under £6bn, using Channel Tunnel Rail Link costs.

‘RFG will examine the scheme carefully and compare forecasts with capacity on the affected routes, and looks forward to working with members of the EuroRail Freight Group to take forward this exciting proposal, particularly as part of the freight input to the Government’s 30 year rail strategy.’

For more information contact:

Tony Berkeley, Chairman - 07710 431 542

Neil Stevens, Development and Communications Manager - 07956 629696