NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 23 December 2009 CALL FOR 'RAIL FRIEGHT CONSORTIUM' TO EASE A9 PRESSURE Mid-Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has submitted a response to Transport Scotland's 'Developing Rail Freight Policy in Scotland' consultation and outlined his vision for a 'Rail Freight Consortium' for the Perthshire Corridor to reduce the number of HGVs on the A9. In his submission, Murdo Fraser stated the following: "I am responding to the 'Developing Rail Freight Policy Scotland' consultation in my capacity as an MSP for the Mid-Scotland & Fife Region. I would like to concentrate my submission on rail freight services between Perth and Inverness. "I am in favour of increased modal shift to rail for freight and have campaigned for a number of years to see more freight transported by rail between Perth and Inverness than by road, which will see a reduction of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) on the A9. "I want to see a viable 'Rail Freight Consortium' between Perth and Inverness set up to encourage supermarkets, retailers and businesses which currently use the A9 between Perth and Inverness to transport their goods by rail instead of the A9. The 'Rail Freight Consortium' will make rail freight between Perth and Inverness economically viable as many businesses will be using it together. "I believe the number of HGVs on the A9 cause tailbacks and frustration for drivers, which can lead to accidents on the road. As we know, the A9 witnesses too many accidents and I am sure a reduction in HGVs will lead to a reduction in accidents on the A9." ENDS   back to top of page