Branson launches Green train

Sir Richard Branson called for lower taxes on green fuels as he launched Europe's first biodiesel train today.

The Virgin Voyager train, starting a six-month trial using fuel that is 20 per cent biodiesel, travelled from London to Chester and among its passengers was Gordon Brown.

Sir Richard said: "It's fantastic that we are leading the rest of Europe in developing this fuel.

"The tax on clean fuels is, quite bizarrely, higher than on dirty fuels. Our indications are from Gordon Brown that he will address this problem.

"If it's not addressed we will have dirty fuels and the clean fuels will move abroad to countries such as France and Germany instead."

Biodiesel is derived from biological sources and is biodegradable and produces less C02 than conventional diesel.

Mr Brown said: "If this scheme works well we are prepared to look at other things. We are prepared to look at what could be done in the future.

"We have to prove that this works. If it works I want other train companies to consider using biodiesel."

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