Responding to the announcement from the Northern Ireland Executive that it has approved the A5 road upgrade scheme, Nichola Mallon, Head of Trade and Devolved Policy at business group Logistics UK, says: “This is a positive announcement and one which will delight our members as Logistics UK has been campaigning for the A5 upgrade over many years.
“The A5 is one of Northern Ireland’s key transport corridors and a route heavily used by HGVs, yet it is currently the most dangerous road on the island of Ireland. Not only will the road upgrade improve road safety dramatically, it will significantly improve efficiency when it comes to logistics and will transform connectivity and competitiveness in the West.
“The first phase of the A5 upgrade represents a significant investment by the Executive, and one that cannot be downplayed considering the constrained fiscal situation at present, but it is imperative that the Executive commits to upgrading the whole of the A5. At the moment there are no dates for when the sections linking Derry to Strabane and Ballygawley to Aughnacloy will be upgraded and it is essential that these stretches of road are upgraded as well, to improve road safety further and drive growth by smoothing the transportation of goods that we rely on every day.”
Meanwhile in response to the announcement of proposed lower charges for freight movements between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel by the ORR, Ellis Shelton, Senior Policy Advisor at Logistics UK, said: “The proposal of lower charges for freight trains travelling from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), as a result of the Draft Determination of HS1 Ltd’s spending plans, is encouraging news for those businesses moving goods to and from the continent. The use of rail freight on the HS1 route is a vital element of the UK’s trade connectivity with Europe and a key factor in encouraging trade between the continent and the UK. Rail freight has a vital role to play in driving growth in the UK economy and this reduction in costs should encourage more businesses to take advantage of the cross-Channel service’s efficiency to maximise trading relationships with partners in continental Europe.”
The ORR announcement can be read here: https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/pr24-hs1-draft-determination-press-release