The Freight Transport Association has produced a list of critical road and rail schemes that should be saved from government cuts.
With the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review is due to be published on the 20 October, the FTA is warning that cutting capital spending on infrastructure would be “huge mistake”.
It has highlighted the national transport corridors in greatest need of investment:
Rail:
London to Kent Ports Corridor
South Coast Ports to the Midlands
London Orbital Corridor (cross London routes)
London to the West Midlands, North West and Scotland Corridor (West Coast Main Line)
London to the East Midlands, Yorkshire, North East and Scotland Corridor (East Coast Main Line)
London to Thames Gateway Ports Corridor
Roads:
London to Kent Ports Corridor (M20)
South Coast Ports to the Midlands (A34, M40)
London Orbital Corridor (M25)
London to the West Midlands, North West and Scotland Corridor (M1, M6)
Trans-Pennine (M62, M180)
Haven Ports to Midlands (A14)
Chief executive Theo de Pencier said: “Worryingly, those road and rail corridors that are likely to become congestion ‘hotspots’ due to greater freight growth over the next decade are already under the greatest strain – the need to make early headway on existing investment plans is obvious.
“The public purse is understandably being tightly held, but the government must not be constrained by previously held dogma in funding its spending priorities. However they are funded, FTA believes that the projects identified in the submission are simply too important to forsake.”
