 Ministers said removing lorries from the roads helped the environment |
A new rail freight service which could take more than 200 lorries a week off Scotland's roads has been launched. Tesco freight to Scotland will now be taken by train under the deal, struck between the supermarket chain and haulier Eddie Stobart.
The service will run from Daventry, Northamptonshire, to Grangemouth from where the goods go by road to Tesco's distribution centre in Livingston.
The service was backed by a �200,000 Scottish Executive grant.
Road 'pressure'
The cash has helped Eddie Stobart to pay for 90 truck-train containers.
The project is expected to generate �3m of environmental benefits over as many years, according to ministers.
The haulier has also received a grant of �235,000 from the Department for Transport in England.
Scottish Transport Minister Tavish Scott said: "Not only will this scheme significantly reduce pressure on our road network, but the removal of so many lorries from our roads also has clear environmental benefits.
"This devolved government is committed to getting freight off our roads and on to our railways and waterways, and since 1999 our freight grant schemes have made considerable strides in doing just that."
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