While it is claimed this would have the desirable effect of taking lorries off of motorways, a recent study has found that it would also result in the Humber ports carrying 20% less container traffic than expected by 2010.

The Humber Forum applauds the intention to transfer freight from road to rail but argues the Central Railway scheme should be extended to include the Humber ports. Their location is significant in that they enable northern UK traffic on near-continent routes to bypass the congested southeast and the Channel Tunnel.

Inclusion in the rail scheme would encourage and enable more continental traffic, particularly to north German, Scandanavian, Baltic and some eastern European traffic through the Humber ports.

With the forthcoming enlargement of the EU, the ease of access to emerging markets for UK business will become increasingly important.

MJ Information No: 17306