RAIL minister Tom Harris MP paid a flying visit to Ipswich today on his way to find out about the freight industry in Felixstowe.Today he is due to meet with John Smith, Managing Director of GB Rail Freight, to tour the Felixstowe depot.

RAIL minister Tom Harris MP paid a flying visit to Ipswich today on his way to find out about the freight industry in Felixstowe.

Today he is due to meet with John Smith, Managing Director of GB Rail Freight, to tour the Felixstowe depot.

He said that while the freight industry is not “all rosy” capacity on the UK network has risen by 50 per cent.

As well as touring the depot he will be taken into the cab of a freight train for his trip back to London.

He said: “It is important as a minister responsible for railways and freight for me to go to freight industry events and to know how the industry works from a purely practical point of view.

“It's really important for ministers to get out into the industry and speak to people working day to day at the coal face.”

He said he couldn't comment on proposals to dual the line between Ipswich and Felixstowe as this is subject to a public inquiry.

He added that he has spoken to Charles Clarke MP for Norwich about proposals to dual the track in each direction between Norwich and London.

He said: “I haven't made any comments on that as it is for Network Rail to decide, but I understand the benefits that it would produce for Norwich and the county.”