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Moving freight by rail has always been popular with the general public in the UK .
In a small rather crowded island it is not surprising that heavy good vehicles are unpopular.
The man in the street has always seen the railway system as the answer to road congestion. The environmentalists and politicians agree.
Cargo professionals know that it is not as simple as that.
Unfortunately, the current rail system is unable to cope with demand and, not surprisingly, the owners Railtrack are seeking increases of up to 25 percent justified by the need to provide additional capacity.
Felixstowe pours heavy goods vehicles onto the roads and is under constant pressure from everyone to reduce the numbers.
It reacts to this pressure by providing rail terminals to encourage rail use. Over 250000 containers enter and leave the port by rail each year.
The port plans further expansion and makes great play of its plans to move much of the additional traffic by rail.
It won't be able to do that on an overcrowded rail system bent on increasing charges.
Rather than more containers being carried by rail, there could be rather less in future.
It is not a comfortable position for the port.
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