Government Urged to Improve UK Port Intermodal Links
The Department for Transport (DofT) must become a keener advocate for UK ports, urges the Transport Committee, in a new report looking at policy for improving road and rail access to ports. “The Department has brought forward a new high-level strategy on ports, but ministers must now provide more detail about how it will be implemented to prioritise the removal of constraints to port development caused by inadequate transport infrastructure. “Transport links – especially roads and rail – are crucial to the economic prosperity of our major ports.
APL Exec: Collaboration is Key
The freight transport industry must collaborate to combat mounting congestion challenges and use a collective voice to move the issue up both public and governmental agendas, according to David Appleton, European Regional President for global container transport leader APL. Speaking at the international transport conference, TOC Europe, in Istanbul, Mr Appleton said: “Unfortunately, supply chain congestion is not on many people’s radar screens. He emphasised the need to address this situation because of the strain on Europe’s transport infrastructure caused by the double-digit growth of imports to Europe, mainly from Asia. “Forecasts for trade growth in the future show that congestion within the European supply chain will not be reduced.