COAL SUPPLIES THREATENED BY CLEAN AIR LAW PROPOSAL

Department for environment admits it “has not estimated impact” of new legislation on steam lines.

THE COST WOULD BE OVER £100 PER TONNE MORE THAN WE CURRENTLY PAY, WHICH WE CAN’T AFFORD

Railways are being urged to petition Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, to make them exempt from proposed rules which could threaten their coal supply.

As part of the Government’s Clean Air Strategy for a 30% reduction in particulate emissions by 2030, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs is considering restricting the burning of fossil fuels – namely wood and coal – in the home, as approximately 38% of national particulate emissions come from homes burning solid fuels. This compares with industrial combustion (16%) and road transport (12%).

Although preserved railways are not currently included under the proposed legislation, one of Britain’s biggest coal suppliers – Hargreaves – is concerned that DEFRA’s plans to phase out the sale of the most polluting fuels and encourage consumers to switch to less polluting alternatives will have a negative impact upon the coal mining industry and railways’ ability to source coal.

It has drafted a letter, which it is urging railways to send to

Mr Gove, asking him to consider the consequences of the proposals.

It says: “Railways are much loved throughout the UK and are significant financial contributors to the UK tourism industry and to the economy of the local areas that they operate in.

“We currently buy our coal from UK mines and have been toldthat if these mines are stopped from selling house coal they would be forced to close, as they wouldn’t be economic.

“If this were the case we would have to look at imported coal, but are advised that it is unlikely that there would be sufficient imports to meet the demand for our sector. The prediction for this scenario is that if coal was available, the cost would be over £100 per tonne more than we currently pay, which we can’t afford.”

Responding to Steam Railway’s enquiries, a DEFRA spokesman said: “As steam railways fall outside the scope of the proposed regulations, we have not directly estimated the impact on them. However, several preserved railways and other heritage bodies responded to our consultation on cleaner fuel for domestic burning, and their responses will be taken into account as we draw up the new regulations.

“We are not planning to restrict the use of coal by steam railways. The new regulations will not place any restrictions on the mining of coal, and coal will continue to be available for steam railways.”