Rail freight should also be fully used to ease congestion on the M20. That’s the message from the Freight Transport Association, which has produced a new publication arguing the case.

The group supports the controversial planned Aldington lorry park to counter Operation Stack but also says that more goods should be also carried by rail. It claims that congestion on the roads currently costs British business £17billion a year.

The FTA document, called The Importance of Rail Freight, calls for more use of trains over the next 30 years to reduce CO2 emissions as well as road congestion.

~ Read the full document here >>>

Geoff Dossetter, FTA director of external affairs, said: "You need the effective development of both road and rail, not one at the expense of the other.

"It is suggested that not all freight can go by rail as road freight goes door to door but more rail freight could be taken."

Eurotunnel wants to more than quadruple the tonnage of rail freight on its services, while Dover Harbour Board says that it is making provision for a rail freight connection in its planned development of a second ferry terminal at Dover Western Docks.

For more details see this week's Kentish Express.