The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has said it could be easier for hauliers with Scottish routes to get a backload when a rail freight charge is applied to coal transportation.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is set to impose an increased track access charge for the rail transportation of coal for electricity supply in 2016, meaning more coal trucks could be on Scotland’s roads.
FTA head of policy for Scotland Chris MacRae said: “Potentially it means a shift from rail to road. At the moment a lot of the coal from Scotland travels down to the Midlands by rail.”
MacRae said that while the charge may be detrimental for rail freight operators that have a lot of work in the coal sector, it may open up opportunities for road haulage firms that find difficulty in getting a backload when returning from Scotland.
He estimates that there could be 148,000 extra trucks hauling coal on Scotland’s roads. The FTA is currently advising rail freight operators to consider alternatives.
The regime, which is set to be introduced in 2016 and phased in gradually over three years, will see rail freight operators be charged a fare of £4.04 per 1,000 gross tonne mile (kgtm). The ORR introduced the charge to contribute towards costs of between £280m to £400m per year for wear and tear of the tracks, caused by rail freight.
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