Rail pilot project could take 250 timber lorries away from roads
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TIMBER lorries could be a rarer sight on far north roads if a new pilot project proves successful.
Victa Railfreight has been awarded £195,000 by the Scottish Government to trial the use of rail to transport timber in the north of Scotland.
The trial on the Caithness to Inverness line will also look at the potential of using Thurso and Lairg as potential loading points for timber, subject to the relevant approvals.
Funded through the Scottish Strategic Rail Freight Fund, the six-week trial will begin this week. This will operate up to three trains a week, with the potential to move around 6000 tonnes of timber.
It will take around 250 lorries, totalling 55,000 lorry miles, away from the A9 and other Scottish roads and help reduce carbon emissions.
Scotland's transport secretary Michael Matheson said: “We know that rail freight and modal shift to rail reduces road congestion, improves air quality and reduces emissions.
“The trial will help to demonstrate that the movement of timber in Scotland by rail is possible as well as efficient, and it will provide confidence to both the timber and rail freight industries to develop permanent and sustainable solutions to meet market needs.
“This type of collaboration can support a sustainable green economic recovery from the current health crisis. It is good news for the timber and rail freight industry, for the Scottish economy and for the environment.”
Neil Sime, Victa Railfreight's managing director, said the business was delighted that the Scottish Government had been able to provide substantial funding to allow the trial to happen.
“We hope that it will lead to further movements of timber by rail across Scotland, providing greener solutions and reducing damage to sensitive rural roads,” he added.
Jamie Farquhar, Scottish national manager for forestry and wood trade body Confor, said: "This is most welcome news, particularly as rail may be the only way to get some otherwise landlocked timber to market.
"Confor has worked hard for many years with the Timber Transport Forum to minimise the carbon footprint and impact of timber transport on rural communities – and rail can provide another effective option to do this, and to supply timber to our wood-processing industry.
"We wish Victa Railfreight every success in this venture."
Anne MacKenzie, senior route freight manager for Network Rail Scotland, also welcomed the trial and said: “We have worked proactively with the government and our freight industry partners to support the development of the trial which will accommodate the safe and efficient movement of timber on the rail network.
“We are confident that this trial will demonstrate that rail is a viable and environmentally sustainable way to transport timber and are delighted to have worked closely with our rail freight industry partners in supporting this co-operative venture.”
The six-week trial will test the operation of the trains, timber loading, load security and unloading. This will confirm the load capacity of the wagons and show if there is a need for design modifications to allow greater load capacity, as well as identifying any operational issues, so a best practice model can be created.
The trial will also encourage the rail transportation of timber in other parts of Scotland.
