GB freight strategy: Government launches discussion document

Last week, the Department for Transport published its long-awaited discussion document which analyses movement of major freight commodities on the strategic national corridors, and sets out Government's understanding of the issues affecting each freight mode. A key output of this is a series of end-to-end journey studies. The first two of these were published alongside the discussion document and cover container freight movements through international gateways and roro freight movements. It also considers how Government can work with industry to facilitate effective freight movement while mitigating its environmental and social impact.

The document also commits to a study into the potential effects of an increase of up to two metres in the length of articulated vehicle trailers. Earlier in the summer, the previous Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, left the door open for longer semi-trailers when she ruled out the prospect of trials of longer heavier vehicles (LHVs) up to 25 metres long. Two possible scenarios exist: a longer articulated vehicle plated at 44 tonnes and a longer articulated vehicle plated at 46 tonnes (thereby achieving payload neutrality). FTA is currently preparing a survey of members who believe that they would be able to make use of longer semi trailers. This will identify a series of case studies which will highlight the commodities and follows likely benefits from these vehicles. The study will consider whether there are clear benefits in changing the permitted length to reduce the numbers of lorries on roads, taking into account freight demand and the interaction between road, rail and water transport.