News

The Kent Green Party have attacked the Government's reported plans to increase freight charges for Eurostar trains by nearly five times more than normal Network Rail charges, despite an increase in Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) moving through Kent each year of 7-8%.

Dr Hazel Dawe, Chair of Kent Green Party, said: "We need to reduce the number of heavy lorries travelling through Kent not encourage more of them.

"Clearly, increasing rail freight is a major option we must use to achieve this, but the Government plans to charge nearly 500% more for freight travelling on Kent's high speed lines than the usual Network Rail freight charges.

"This may decrease the amount of freight carried by rail instead of increasing it.

"Since Heavy Goods Vehicles travelling through Kent are increasing at 7-8% a year, it is obvious that rail freight needs reasonable charges and increased investment in order to compete. The Government is behaving as if it thinks more traffic congestion and more air pollution are good."