HL Deb 12 October 2004 vol 665 cc57-8WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What analysis has been undertaken, since the general introduction of 44-tonne lorries, on (a) additional damage to road pavement and structures; and (b) their competitive position in comparison to rail freight. [HL4207]

Lord Davies of Oldham

(a) No analysis has been carried out to assess any additional damage to road pavement and structures since the introduction of 44-tonne vehicles. However, the UK design and assessment loading standards for highway structures cover the effects of 40-tonne EU vehicles that were allowed on UK roads from 1 January 1999. Extensive research has shown that road pavement damage is strongly influenced by axle load; for an individual axle mass of 10.5 tonnes, there is approximately 40 per cent less road wear than for an axle mass of 11.5 tonnes. Hence, 44–tonne vehicles operating with six axles of 10.5 tonne axle mass limit cause less road wear than 40-tonne vehicles operating with five axles of 11.5 tonne axle mass limit. Therefore 44-tonne vehicles do not impose greater load effects than other permitted vehicles and so should not cause additional damage to highway structures or road pavements.

(b) No specific programme of monitoring or analysis of the economic consequences on rail freight of the general move to 44-tonne vehicles has been undertaken. Initially, 44-tonne vehicles were limited to combined road-rail freight. However, market studies and forecasting exercises undertaken before the introduction of 44-tonne vehicles indicated that the main effect on rail freight markets would be increased pressure on prices and rail operators' margins, rather than a major shift of freight from road to rail transport. Since 44-tonne vehicles were introduced into general road freight, the payload advantages that accompanied the combined road/rail freight limitations have ceased. However, the overall competitive position of rail freight has been affected by influences wider than the introduction of 44-tonne vehicles into general road freight.

Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

From which ports the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has received correspondence on matters of maximum permitted vehicle weights, requesting them not to operate in or near ports. [HL4208]

Lord Davies of Oldham

Correspondence has been received by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency about general issues, including maximum permitted weights, in relation to operations at the ports at Dover and Bristol, Avonmouth.