THE Government has given Rover a grant of more than £350,000 as part of a national drive to get more freight on to Rail.

The money will help Rover develop a major new railhead next to the Cowley plant to cut lorry movements.

Rover will eventually move 30,000 cars a year by rail away from Cowley. At present the railhead can only cope with 5,000.

Many cars will be shipped straight through the Channel Tunnel.

The grant was one of 16, worth a total of £9.5m, which the Government predicts will save about 750,000 lorry trips nationwide each year.

Transport Minister Dr John Reid said a further £30.5m is available this financial year for schemes to transport more freight by rail or inland waterway.

He said: "The money is there; it is up to the transport industry to come forward with schemes."

A key goal in the campaign to relieve the pressure of lorries on motorways and rural roads was to encourage more freight on to the much-criticised West Coast main line between London, north west England and Scotland.

He acknowledged there was a "massive need" for investment in the line's infrastructure, which has been blamed by Virgin Rail for the poor performance of some of its passenger services.

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