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Britain's rail companies and inland waterway operators could benefit from plans to improve the way freight grants are awarded, John Watts, Minister for Railways, Roads and Local Transport revealed today.
Publishing a consultation paper on streamlining the award of freight grants, as part of a drive to boost rail freight and protect the environment, Mr Watts said:
"This Government wants to see a revival of rail freight in Britain. Privatising the rail freight companies has already put the heart back in the industry. Streamlining the way freight grants are awarded will help check its long term decline, and contribute to reversing the flow of freight onto our roads.
"Freight grants have already been successful in switching freight from road to rail and inland waterways. The recently announced increase in grant rates from 5p to 20p per mile for long distance freight is set to further increase the amount of goods carried. But we want to do more.
"Decisions on applications for grants can be made more flexible and speeded up, and the amount of grant awarded can be increased. That's why I'm inviting the freight industry to put forward their views on how we can tailor grants to fit the needs of freight operators and their customers."
Copies of the consultation paper are available from the Department's Freight Grants unit, tel. 0171 271 5736. The deadline for contributions is 31 December 1996.
Notes to editors
1. Two grants are available under the scheme . Freight Facilities grant is available towards the capital cost of rail and inland waterway freight equipment in cases where the traffic would otherwise go by road. Track Access Grant is used to help defray the costs to freight operators of access to the rail network. both grants are available where the removal of freight from the roads will result in environmental and wider benefits.
