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Railhub Archive
1996-10-31 DoT-001
Department of Transport0
Watts publishes plans to streamline freight grants
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  Watts publishes plans to streamline freight grants
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type Press release
note 331
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.
Railhub Archive ::: 1996-10-31 DoT-001
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