EUROTUNNEL is on track to take freight off Kent's busy roads by bidding for a railway operator's licence.

The Channel Tunnel company is the first company in France to make such a bid since the Trans European Rail Freight Network was opened up to competition on March 15.

A licence would enable Eurotunnel to pursue its aim of establishing a separate railway operating subsidiary in order to play a more active role in the growth in international rail freight.

The company wants to use its expertise to develop new, long distance rail freight services in addition to its existing shuttle services.

These services, which Eurotunnel promises will be faster, safer and more economical than road transport, aim to meet British, French and European Union targets for less road congestion and safeguarding the environment.

Richard Shirrefs, Eurotunnel chief executive, said: "The opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 dramatically improved the efficiency of the transport of goods and people between the UK and France.

"Today, we transport 1.2 million trucks and 2.3 million cars every year on our shuttles, whilst Eurostar carry a further 6.6 million passengers.

"However, the volume of rail freight through the Channel Tunnel remains very disappointing with only 1.4 million tons per annum -- the equivalent of just 100,000 trucks.

"The barriers to the development of cross-Channel rail traffic must be lifted, and our request for a Railway Operator's Licence affirms our determination to work in this direction.

"To achieve this, we are willing to work in partnership with other operators to develop new services that meet the needs of existing and potential international rail freight customers."