Government must solve the transport crisis ­ raise targets and increase spending
21 June 2002

The Freight Transport Association says that the Government has failed to recognise the full extent of the mounting problems on road and rail since the Ten Year Transport Plan was published two years ago. Despite completing many of the promises made in 2000 the present plan is simply not robust enough to meet the UK’s future needs. FTA says that targets should be raised and investment increased. Without early actions there will be a steadily worsening situation with no hope of improvement or even containment.

An FTA analysis of progress on the Ten Year Plan reveals that many of the targets have been hit. But the real life day-to-day experience of industry, operating on road and rail, is that congestion is increasing, reliability is failing and consequential costs rising. Every one of FTA’s quarterly transport activity surveys over the last five years has reported an unrelenting increase in roads congestion. The contents of the present Ten Year Plan are incapable of retrieving the situation. The Government must recognise the essential need for increased spending and for a review of actions and targets.

FTA Chief Executive Richard Turner says ‘So far the Ten Year Plan has secured a number of easy hits. But life on road and rail is getting much tougher. The present and forecast growth of demand means planning and investment has to keep running in order for the service just to stand still.

‘Overall spending on strategic road building is on course but it now needs retargetting with investment brought forward. In particular we must give swift attention to our key trade routes ­ M1, M4, M6, M25, M60 and M62 ­ which have been identified by industry to be of primary importance. Sadly, progress on improvements has been bogged down by awaiting the outcomes of the multi-modal studies.

‘The experience of the last two years since the plan was published is of growing demand for passenger and goods movement; failing rail services; increasing road and rail congestion; and rising costs.

‘Government must be bold and take the earliest action to recognise and review the problem. By this time next year we must see increased transport spending; a fast track plan for the outcomes of the multi-modal studies ­ notably trade route motorway improvements; produce a timetable for construction; redefine and target rail freight plans; and advance on a plan to better manage congestion by use of telematics and road pricing for all vehicles ­ including cars.’

FTA says that the gap between demand for transport services and the supply of those services is widening fast and that the current Ten Year Plan is simply not up to the job. The Government should admit that reality and raise its game to deal with it.

Last updated: Wed Jul 21 14:20:07 2004