Rail goods cash to cut emissions

Tesco will use trains to haul food from the central belt

Over 400 lorry journeys a week are to be cut from Scotland's busy roads as two new freight rail services are laid on to haul Tesco food.

Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has pledged over £3m in a bid to cut congestion and carbon emissions.

Eddie Stobart will receive up to £982,000 to help transport Tesco goods between Grangemouth and Inverness.

John G Russell has been awarded up to £2.1m for a Coatbridge to Inverness rail goods service.

Speaking at the opening of Tesco's new distribution centre in Livingston, Mr Stevenson said: "As a government we are committed to getting more freight off Scotland's roads and onto rail and water.

Tesco is committed to helping the environment and by moving this freight onto rail it is estimated we will save over 13,000 road journeys a year Sir Terry Leahy Tesco

"By taking more lorries off our roads this funding will help ease congestion and reduce damage to the environment.

"Many of us have experienced congestion on roads such as the A9. These awards will help free up traffic flow on the A9 and reduce emissions.

"This funding will remove three million lorry miles from Scotland's roads a year and deliver £6.3m in environmental benefits over the next five years."

Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco, said: "Tesco is committed to helping the environment and by moving this freight onto rail it is estimated we will save over 13,000 road journeys a year.

"This shows just how ambitious Tesco is when it comes to cutting our environmental footprint, while delivering the very best for our customers.

"I am delighted to officially open the distribution centre in Livingston and to see for myself the real benefit for Tesco customers, who will now be able to take advantage of increased product availability and wider ranges of both local and national goods."