Roads pay price for SRA mess

摘要

About three years ago, a pugnacious John Prescott sprang to the defence of his vaunted Ten Year Plan for transport. "Let me leave you in no doubt," he said with even more than usual fervour, "Our vision means more public money for transport, whether we spend it directly or in partnership with local authorities and the private sector." One of the aims was to promote a shift of freight traffic off the roads and onto the railways. Although only a small proportion of freight goes by rail such a shift would surely be desirable since it would lead to less congestion, less pollution and greater road safety. All of that is very laudable, but such dreams have been given a body blow.