Rail freight opportunities

I always understood that a major proportion of pathways through the Channel Tunnel were reserved for direct rail freight, but were not taken up.

It may well be that Eurotunnel has used many of them for its increased lorry shuttles. But are there not still some left for freight trains to relieve the ever-increasing number of heavy lorries jamming up our motorways, causing unnecessary problems and frustration for other road users and the local population - particularly on the M20, M25, M26, the Dartford Crossing (and many other places throughout the country)?

Most of this has occurred due to overdevelopment at places such as Dover, and the Government has not intervened to ensure that the cost of cross-Channel freight transport has not been made equally competitive regardless of whether road or rail is used.

Once we have left the EU, Ireland will have no direct access to the EU other than a long journey by sea. There should therefore be an opportunity for a regular rail freight container service direct from Holyhead via the West Coast Main Line and HS1 through the Channel Tunnel to various points in Europe on a daily basis.

By using containers sealed at the point of dispatch, and transferred directly onto trains at Holyhead and other points, much loss of time and congestion would be avoided on motorways, at ports, and to all local communities throughout the country.

There should be more paths available on the WCML when HS2 is complete, adding to its viability. It will provide that much-needed extra traffic and business that the rail freight sector so badly needs, including more loading and transfer points in the North West, the Midlands and near London.

The Eurotunnel lorry freight shuttle should be extended to Dagenham or thereabouts, to make more use of HS1 and relieve Kent’s motorways and the Dartford Crossing.

Road traffic will continue to

increase, so more use of the railway must be made to avoid the inevitable gridlock that is bound to occur. The lorry queues on our motorways are just the warning of the future, if nothing is done. Michael Grant, Kent