Canals could be brought back into service across the UK to ship freight, report says

Upcoming Midlands Connect freight strategy suggests using the region's canals to ship more goods - building on Birmingham's industrial heritage and Black Country

A new report suggests reusing canals to move goods (

Image: Andrew Teebay (Liverpool Echo)

Canals could be repurposed to ship goods across Britain, report says

200 years ago, horse-drawn barges on riverside towpaths helped transport vital goods across the country.

During the Industrial Revolution, canals were waterways responsible for transporting coal, iron and other heavy goods.

But a key plan for a large landlocked area sets the stage for a systems revival.

The upcoming Midlands Connect freight strategy suggests using the region's canals to ship more goods, building on the industrial heritage of Birmingham and the Black Country.

"Where possible, encourage modal shift to more sustainable modes," the study says.

Experts say that shipping goods this way is the most environmentally sustainable approach (

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Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

"Modes of transport such as river freight and rail freight are more sustainable and emit less per ton transported, in particular carbon dioxide.

"To further decarbonise freight, a modal shift must take place and our work must identify how we can achieve this."

The report says the use of canals for freight should be 'considered' as it is better for the environment and less vulnerable to road and rail congestion.

Currently, about 13% of goods are shipped by sea and river.

Birmingham has 56 km of canals, more than Venice.

In their heyday they were so busy that gas lighting was installed next to the locks to allow 24-hour operation.

Boats were built without cabins for maximum carrying capacity, and a near-tidal effect was produced as swarms of barges converged on the Black Country collieries at the same time each day.