The case for a freight-friendly Channel Tunnel

Wednesday, 25 August 2010

With intermodal traffic increasing on the UK’s railways, only 10% of the Channel Tunnel’s capacity for rail freight services is being used, holding back the potential of through-services to and from mainland Europe, according to the FTA’s Christopher Snelling, writes David Badger.

He said: “Domestic rail freight has undergone a renaissance of late, with large high-street retailers embracing it to reduce their transport costs and improve their environmental performance.

“With a typical freight train capable of removing 50 lorries from our congested and creaking road network, it is little wonder that it seems to be becoming the mode of choice for those in the know.

However, imagine how much greater the benefits would be if the Channel Tunnel – the one rail line connecting the UK to the continent – was used to full capacity rather than the 10% currently being used.

“Freight does make substantial use of the tunnel through Eurotunnel’s shuttle service for lorries – but rail freight has not yet been able to match this success.”

He added: “Eurotunnel clearly believes in the potential for rail freight through the tunnel as a business – its move into rail freight operations through subsidiaries such as Europorte Channel and GB Railfreight is evidence enough.

“What rail freight needs to make a real success of the tunnel is critical mass. Services need to reach a certain level of frequency and there needs to be a range of providers in order to the point where logistics buyers feel they have the service and options they require.

“And users would want to be sure that services are sustainable – they must be here to stay.”