As part of the exclusive agreement Maritime Transport will develop, lease and operate Tritax Symmetry’s planned £750 million Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (“SRFI”) at Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (“HNRFI”)
Maritime Transport will develop a 40-acre SRFI, which will be capable of handling 16 trains per day when fully operational. At full capacity, the SRFI will remove more than 83 million HGV miles from the UK road network. The significant volume of goods switched from road to rail could save around 70,120 tonnes of CO2 each year.
The new terminal, which will sit alongside 7 million sq ft of prime warehouse facilities, will strengthen rail freight connections between the Midlands and the major ports of Felixstowe, Liverpool, London Gateway, Southampton, Teesport and Mossend, serving Scotland. Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container terminal, is home to Maritime Transport’s headquarters.
The scheme remains dependent on the Secretary of State for Transport’s approval of a Development Consent Order; the outcome is due in September 2024.
Jonathan Wallis, Director at Tritax Symmetry, commented:
“Maritime Transport’s commitment to an SRFI at this early stage is a significant first in the sector and reflects ultimate confidence in the location’s suitability for rail freight from the leading road and rail freight location provider in the UK.
“Alongside Maritime Transport’s fully fledged support, we are excited by the potential of this prime location for rail-linked logistics, which we believe will see strong demand for large scale, flexible, modern, low carbon space.”
John Williams, Executive Chairman of Maritime Transport, said:
“We are delighted to agree terms with Tritax Symmetry to become the long-term operator of the new SRFI, in planning, at HNRFI. This development will strengthen our rail-connected network and our strategy of decarbonising the full load supply chain in the UK, moving cargo closer to the end user by rail.
“Our strategy of decarbonising the supply chain will extend to the introduction of BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles) to perform first and final mile transport, creating the most sustainable full load networked, intermodal logistics offering for occupiers at HNRFI and beyond.”
Maritime Transport operates over 40 logistics sites across the UK and has invested significantly in its intermodal offering, with Hinckley adding to its portfolio of open-access, multi-user UK rail terminals, including locations at Birmingham, Hams Hall, Kegworth, Manchester, Mossend, Northampton, London (Tilbury) and Wakefield.
In April 2024, Maritime Transport also announced it would be taking on West Midlands Interchange rail freight terminal.
Maggie Simpson, Director General, Rail Freight Group, added:
“The development of a national network of strategic rail freight interchanges is paramount to ensuring the long-term future viability of the UK Government’s target to enhance modal shift of freight from road to rail. We are encouraged by Tritax and Maritime’s commitment to rail freight, and this display of support for the UK’s latest SRFI before the DCO decision is determined is extremely welcome for advancement of sustainable, rail-based logistics.”
Tritax Symmetry is part of Tritax Big Box REIT plc and was represented by Baker Rose Consulting.
Maritime Transport is exhibiting at Multimodal on stand 5030.
About Tritax Symmetry
Tritax Symmetry is Tritax Big Box REIT’s logistics developer, specialising in delivering best-in-class greener buildings and an unrivalled choice of locations and scale. With offices in London, Northampton and Manchester, Tritax Symmetry has a land portfolio of 3,825 acres, capable of accommodating 40million sq ft of logistics space.
Its commitment to best-in-class sustainable construction methods will give customers the operational advantages they demand.
About Tritax Big Box REIT plc
Tritax Big Box REIT plc is the only listed vehicle dedicated to investing in very large logistics warehouse assets ("Big Boxes") in the UK and is committed to delivering attractive and sustainable returns for shareholders. Investing in and actively managing existing built investments, land suitable for Big Box development and developments predominantly delivered through a pre-let forward funded basis, the Company focuses on large, well-located, modern Big Box logistics assets, let to institutional-grade tenants on long-term leases (typically at least 12 years in length) with upward-only rent reviews and geographic and tenant diversification throughout the UK. The Company seeks to exploit the significant opportunity in this sub-sector of the UK logistics market owing to strong tenant demand and limited supply of Big Boxes.
The Company is a real estate investment trust to which Part 12 of the UK Corporation Tax Act 2010 applies ("REIT"), is listed on the premium segment of the Official List of the UK Financial Conduct Authority and is a constituent of the FTSE 250, FTSE EPRA/NAREIT and MSCI indices.
About Maritime Transport
Maritime is the largest, privately owned, intermodal (road/rail) logistics operator in the UK. Established in its current form in 2001 under the leadership of Executive Chairman, John Williams, the company has grown from small beginnings to a £400m+ turnover, asset-rich business with over 40 sites, including a network of seven, operating strategic rail freight terminals and further three planned or under construction. In 2023, over 24% of the company’s container moves were performed by rail, up from 6% in 2019.
Today, the company employs 3,000 skilled, permanent personnel across its sites and operates a state-of-the-art fleet of 1,600 Euro 6 trucks and 50+ of the latest, advanced container handlers, which together form the backbone of its UK operations to provide customers with supply chain service, security and choice for first and final miles. With 25 daily rail services and with Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) on order, Maritime has a proven, track record as an intermodal operator, developing and delivering low carbon, container logistics solutions and pioneering the modal shift of UK domestic distribution from road to rail.
