§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comparative statistics he has on the use of rail to transport freight in each country in the EC; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanTable 8.10 of Transport Statistics Great Britain 1992 shows freight moved by national vehicles on national territory in 1980 and 1990. Copies are available in the Library.
An important reason for national differences is economic geography. The long coastlines of the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain favour coastal shipping, while the topography of the Netherlands favours inland waterways. France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany cover a land mass favourable to rail for bulk transport, and with long hauls giving some advantage to rail over road.