Port of Liverpool is moving freight from road to rail

A rail freight service launched to transport containers from the Port of Liverpool to Scotland has been a major success, according to its operator Peel Ports, and has helped to minimise pressure on local roads.

Since launching in August 2018 the rail service has saved over ½ a million road miles being driven on the UK's motorways. It has also resulted in a significant reduction in HGV movements around Seaforth, and saved around 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process.

In excess of 2500 containers packed with imports have already travelled from Liverpool to Mossend terminal in Glasgow using the service, giving Scottish exporters a new route to international markets. Containers are returning to the Mersey with goods including food and drink destined for overseas via direct deep sea routes from Liverpool.

Peel Ports has a longstanding commitment to reducing road haulage miles locally around the Port of Liverpool. It launched a rail route between Liverpool and Drax Power Station in 2015, shipping biomass pellets to the site in North Yorkshire.

Jouke Schaap, Container Director at Peel Ports, said:- "Cargo owners are always looking for the most efficient ways of getting their goods from A to B. By moving cargo using a range of transport modes including rail, our service has been able to offer a cost effective solution for the trunk haul, storage and last mile delivery of containers. It has proven attractive to a number of shipping lines and forwarders, and has also given Scottish exporters greater exposure to global markets. With this in mind we expect the service to grow further in 2019."

For more information visit:- PeelPorts.Com/Rail.

RMT calls for halt to staff cuts as new BTP figures show knife crime has tripled on Britain's railways

THE Rail Union RMT have called for a halt to staffing cuts on Stations and Platforms, including the removal of guards, as shocking new British Transport Police figures show that knife crime on Britain's railways has more than tripled in the past 3 years.  According to the Press Association agency British Transport Police (BTP) recorded 1,059 offences involving a knife or bladed article in 2018, up from 338 in 2015. There were 417 in 2016 and 632 in 2017.  The number of people caught carrying a knife rose steeply. Possession of an offensive weapon increased more than 5 times from 24 in 2015 to 136 in 2018. There were 57 recorded instances in 2016, and 52 in 2017. Figures for having an article with a blade or point in a public place rose from 103 in 2015, to 164 in 2016, 222 in 2017, and 387 in 2018. The new figures come just after the BTP revealed that violence on London Underground has increased by nearly 50% over a similar period.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:- "No 1 can now seriously argue that there isn't a rising tide of violence on Britain's railways and these latest shocking BTP figures are borne out by our members day to day experiences at the sharp end of the transport network. These statistics reinforce a pattern of increasing abuse and violence on our trains and platforms and should serve as a wake up call to both the Government and a number of the train operators who are ignoring this brutal reality. Staff are the eyes and ears of the service, axing them in the drive towards an automated and faceless railway in the name of profit gives a green light to the thugs and criminals and it is grossly and dangerously irresponsible. The threat to our guards and our station staff should be lifted immediately."