SEGRO has completed the 35-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at its new multimodal development SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, enabling freight trains to access the site ahead of the launch of regular services later in the year.
The completion follows a 54-hour rail possession over the Easter period, during which SEGRO and its contractor Winvic, along with Network Rail delivered all critical elements of the scheme, including the commissioning of the main line and intermodal signalling. The rail terminal connects to the West Coast Mainline via the Northampton Loop Line and is expected to play a pivotal role in shifting freight movement from road to rail, reducing emissions and congestion. In its response RFG has set out our comments in each section, as well as answering the consultation questions. Weare grateful to colleagues at Department for Transport, GBRTT and Network Rail for the many discussions and workshops, development of position papers and for the additional clarification they have provided over the consultation period, which has helped to inform our response. Click here to download the response.
Kate Bedson, Senior Director, National Markets at SEGRO, said:
"We’re excited to see real momentum at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, with the completion of the rail freight terminal infrastructure and strong progress on Yusen Logistics’ new facility– the first warehouse on the park to be constructed. Each freight train can remove up to 76 HGVs from the road with a consequential reduction in carbon emissions, making this a crucial step towards more sustainable logistics. With rail freight contributing £1.7bn to the economy, this milestone is not only a shot in the arm for growth, also it supports a greener, more efficient supply chain.”
Tony Berryman, Senior Sponsor for Network Rail’s West Coast South route, said:
“Completing work to connect the new SEGRO freight interchange to the West Coast Main Line at Northampton formed a key part of our Easter weekend improvements, alongside several major track upgrades to make journeys on Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway better. Reducing carbon emissions is a key priority for Network Rail, and we’re excited about the opportunities Northampton’s new freight hub brings. By supporting the shift of freight from road to rail, it will help cut congestion and lower emissions. The new interchange also highlights the environmental benefits of rail freight, such as significantly reducing CO2 output and decreasing the number of heavy goods vehicles on our roads.”
