UK Government Transport Policy identifies a key role for freight interchange in meeting the aspirations for sustainable transport and development. The Strategic Rail Authority's rail freight strategy identifies a key role for local authorities in identifying and protecting rail freight terminals from development and promoting their use. This paper examines the issues in promoting modal shift in freight transport and looks in detail at the types of rail freight activity that local authorities need to provide for, how to assess the market and local requirements and how to protect and promote sites. The paper draws on a number of studies recently carried out for both the public and private sectors, including the development of the Gloucestershire Rail Freight Strategy and recent Eastchurch public inquiry where a key issue related to the protection of land for development of a rail freight terminal. Issues of rail capacity, market assessment, infrastructure and operations are considered in relation to examples from across the UK. For the covering abstract see ITRD E124693.
Samenvatting