Freight operator fears goods will be forced off the rails
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Your support makes all the difference.The Government is in danger of forcing even more freight off rail and on to the roads with its latest proposals for Railtrack's replacement, according to the country's largest freight operator.
EWS, which employs 6,000 people, has told rail regulator Tom Winsor that it is "extremely disturbed" by some of Network Rail's plans. In a letter to Mr Winsor, EWS says that "the new structure of the industry ... discriminates against freight operators and rail freight".
The revelation will embarrass the Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, who wants to see an 80 per cent increase in rail freight by 2010.
EWS, which carries 100 tons of freight each year, is concerned about two proposals contained in an Office of the Rail Regulator consultation document.
The regulator is considering giving Network Rail the power to downgrade the status of certain lines by allowing the not-for-profit company to cap the weight or speed. EWS is worried that many routes may be closed off to it.
"EWS rejects any suggestion that the ... capability of the infrastructure network for freight is reduced ... We will fight any such proposal," the company says in its letter to the regulator.
In a separate letter, trade organisation Rail Freight Group points out that the Glasgow South Western line has already been downgraded "by stealth". The group's chairman, Tony Berkeley, says: "The interest from the rail freight industry has never been higher. But we are getting all these stupid regulations thrown at us."
The other area of concern is the so-called "possessions regime", where Network Rail has the power to close a line for maintenance. EWS argues that the system is designed to ensure minimum disruption to passenger services, at the expense of rail freight operating at night.
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