FTA tells British government to accept Eddington’s study

FTA tells British government to accept EddingtonÆs study The Freight Transport Association said Friday it hopes the British government will adopt recommendations made by former British Airways Chief Executive Rod Eddington about the future of the country's transport network and policy in the decade ahead.
   The Eddington Transport Study identified as a priority the need to invest in improving Britain's international air and ocean gateways, simplifying planning procedures for infrastructure projects and road pricing to avoid congestion.
   The FTA said the report 'puts the importance of freight back on the map,' but also urged the government to act upon its own Freight Future report identifying certain rail and road corridors that need investment to keep cargo flowing.
   'Protecting freight flows along our key trade routes should be a priority for government that cannot wait for the introduction of road pricing or the other recommendations in the Eddington Transport Study,' said James Hookham, the FTA's deputy chief executive.
   'Congestion is the curse of modern logistics, whether on the road or rail network. It disrupts schedules, adds costs, and results in poor service,' Hookham said.
   'The expected growth in freight traffic over the next 10 years is dwarfed by the growth in car traffic and passenger train services. Yet freight movements will be a vital part of the growing, consumer driven economy hoped for by the Chancellor (Gordon Brown).
   'Parts of the existing road and rail networks are already close to capacity. Investment in the trade routes to protect these vital freight flows is a justified and urgent requirement,' Hookham said.
   The Eddington report is available at: https://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/39A/41/eddington_execsum11206.pdf while the FTA's Freight Future report can be downloaded at: https://www.fta.co.uk/information/keycampaigns/tenyearplan/freightfuture.pdf