The Scottish Executive has offered plans to redevelop a rail freight facility between Grangemouth and Eldersie a cash £1.65 million cash boost under its Freight Facilities Grant Scheme.

The Eldersie facility is expected to save some 655,000 lorry miles every year.

The scheme was set up to provide cash to projects which would move freight off the roads and onto canals, rivers, the seas or, as in this case, the railways in an effort to reduce pollution and congestion.

It has an annual budget of well over £10 million and since its launch in 1997 has given dozens of projects a total of almost £70 million.

“The Scottish Executive is committed to getting freight off our roads,” said transport minister Tavish Scott in a statement.

“We want to continue to help businesses deliver goods and remain competitive, whilst at the same time contributing to improving our environment.
“This substantial funding will remove 655,000 lorry miles from Scotland’s roads each year and will highlight to others in the freight industry the benefits of transferring freight from our already congested roads.”

Information on the grants, which require a degree of match funding, can be found on the Scottish Executive’s website.

By Sam Bond

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