15-07-03

Barrett backs ‘Keep mail on Rail’ campaign

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, has used today's lobby of Parliament to call for the Royal Mail to reverse its decision to transfer the movement of letters and packages from rail to road.

The lobby, part of the "Keep Mail on Rail" campaign, has been organised by MPs and trade unions and is expected to involve people from across the country. 
Mr Barrett has also signed Early Day Motion 1380 which calls on the Government to consider the Royal Mail decision in view of its consequences for congestion, the environment, jobs and the rail industry.  Over 120 MPs from all three main political parties have supported the motion.

In a statement, Mr Barrett, said:

"With road traffic growing, the decision of Royal Mail to add a further 500 heavy goods vehicles a day to Britain's roads will have serious consequences for congestion, pollution and health problems.  It is thought the extra lorries will pump an extra 15,000 tonnes of pollutants into the atmosphere every year.

"For consumers too, the decision runs the risk of providing us with an inferior service.  Over the last 17 months, over 93% of trains ordered by Royal Mail have run to time.  It is difficult to see how transporting mail on congested roads will be able to match this level of service.

"The Government cannot stand by and class this as a purely commercial decision.  Not only does it undermine the Government's whole attempt to move freight off our roads and onto rail, but with the vacant rail slots likely to be closed by the Strategic Rail Authority, the opportunity to reverse the decision is quickly fading.  The Government must act and act now."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

John Barrett has signed EDM 1380 which has been supported by 126 MPs:

That this House condemns the decision of Royal Mail to transfer the movement of mail from rail freight to other modes of transport by the end of the summer with a direct threat to 500 rail jobs and other jobs at dedicated rail terminals, depots and loading facilities; believes that this decision is short-term and ill conceived and represents a direct challenge to the Government's own policy of increasing the use of freight on rail; notes with dismay the increased congestion on Britain's already over busy road network which will result in an extra 30.5 million lorry miles and the release of an additional 15 thousand tonnes of pollutants per annum; believes that the decision not only undermines the Government's own transport policy but also its environmental and employment objectives; and calls upon the Government to immediately review the decision of Royal Mail in view of its consequences for congestion, the environment, jobs and the rail industry.