A new rail freight service bringing more efficient mainland European wagons into the UK is being held up by unreasonable fee demands from the owner of the track, rail freight operator EWS has told the Financial Times.
EWS, owned by Germany's Deutsche Bahn railway group, believes there is demand for continental-sized freight wagons to run through the Channel tunnel and along High Speed 1.
The wagons are currently barred from almost all the UK's railways due to low bridges and tunnels.
High Speed 1 was built to accommodate continental-sized freight trains and opened its last section in November last year.
EWS's planning director, Graham Smith, told the newspaper that larger wagons would offer customers considerable efficiency advantages.
"It would be good for manufactured goods, vehicle components and fresh produce and would enhance the rail freight offering through the Channel tunnel," Smith said.
By staff writer
