CHORLEY MP Lindsay Hoyle has called for a survey of rail bridges in a bid to improve local freight transport levels.

Mr Hoyle believes increased use of the rail system would benefit local industry such as the Royal Ordnance factory at Euxton and help reduce motorway traffic levels.

Proposals are currently being examined which could see the former factory railway station reopened as part of a major site redevelopment.

In a question to transport minister Glenda Jackson, Mr Hoyle called for a study into adapting railway bridges to allow greater freight transport.

He called for bridges to be restructured to allow larger, "piggyback" rolling stock through.

Railtrack has already launched a feasibility survey into the upgrading of the West Coast Mainline.

In a written reply to Mr Hoyle, Glenda Jackson said: "We would expect Railtrack to tell us how it plans to carry out bridge work as part of the audit."

Mr Hoyle commented: "The transportation of freight by rail would increase the usefulness of the RO site and provide further incentive for development there."

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