A leading transport group has called on politicians not to shy away from infrastructure investment because of the recession, with a particular focus on railfreight.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has said that, by building a more efficient transport network, politicians could help rebuild the UK economy and help meet Britain’s climate change ambitions.

The FTA, which represents more than 14,000 members operating across all modes of transport, will be taking this message to the party conferences with a view to influencing manifestos ahead of next year’s General Election.

James Hookham, the FTA’s director of policy, said: “Having a transport network that is fit for purpose is not an optional extra for any country looking to have a successful economy. Every industry relies upon transport, whether it is getting goods to market or simply ensuring there is paper for the photocopier, but congestion, whether it is on roads or on the rails, not only impedes Britain’s ability to compete, but can also increase our carbon emissions.”

Rather than a large-scale road-building programme, the FTA is urging politicians to take a more intelligent approach, making full use of the infrastructure already available and encouraging greater interchange between the different modes.

Moving goods between road and rail or rail and sea can be challenging and costly, yet these are areas where, with the right political backing and investment, Britain’s trading position could be much improved, it said.

“We support the calls from politicians to put more freight on rail, not least to free up road capacity for those businesses that have no choice but to use them," said Hookham. "However, politicians seem less enthusiastic when it comes to supporting the building of more rail interchanges or even boosting rail access for freight by bringing down access charges. Britain’s economic future needs them to put their might where their mouths are.”

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