A “trail blazing” scheme for hauliers that pays £75 for each container moved by rail has expanded to offer a coastal and short sea shipping solution as well.
The Haven Gateway Partnership said its Low Carbon Freight Dividend (LCFD) project, aimed at hauliers in the east of England, will help them increase the services they offer customers.
Launched a year ago to encourage a modal shift to rail, the injection of more cash from the European Regional Development Fund has enabled it to offer hauliers more transport opportunities.
Project manager Lisa Brazier said 45 companies, mostly hauliers and freight forwarders, expressed an interest in the first 12 months and the extra funding would support another 45 firms to make the modal shift.
“With fuel prices high, congestion on the roads increasing and the possibility of carbon taxes on the horizon, it makes sense for hauliers to look at alternatives to road, particularly for longer journeys,” she said.
“Moving goods by coastal feeder or short sea shipping is more carbon efficient than moving goods by road and the low carbon freight dividend now incorporates this to encourage small and medium-sized companies to use this mode of transport.”
Chris MacRae, Freight Transport Association rail freight policy manager, described the initiative as “worthwhile”, particularly as it was aimed at small to medium-sized businesses.
“There is a leap of faith that needs to be made,” he added. “It’s not going to be of use purely for road freight solutions in or around ports, but for longer distance it could have a benefit.”
