MAJOR WORK is now complete to connect the new rail to road freight interchange SEGRO Logistics Park with the West Coast main line.
Network Rail engineers worked around the clock installing new track, points and signalling systems to connect the existing main line to the new sidings at the under-construction SEGRO logistics park in Northampton.
The scheme is due to open next year and will provide five million square ft of warehouse space and employ up to 7,000 people.
The new railway connection, which will be used by freight company Maritime, will see thousands of tonnes of goods switch between rail and road beside Junction 15 of the M1 every day.
Once operational, four freight trains will serve the new Northampton interchange each day – with the capacity for more in future. Each freight train takes up to 76 heavy good vehicles off the road, making it a much greener way to transport economically important goods around the country.
James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said: “Connecting this new freight interchange to the mainline railway network is a huge milestone and shows our commitment to working with freight operators to moving more goods in the most environmentally friendly way possible – by rail.
“We know this work has meant longer journeys for passengers over the last nine days so I would like to thank everyone impacted for bearing with us while we carried out this important work.”
The West Coast Main Line is one of the busiest freight routes in Europe carrying 40 per cent of all UK rail freight traffic. Further work will now take place with freight operators and developers with the interchange expected to be operational in 2024.
John Williams, Maritime executive chairman, said: “Building and operating modern, inland rail freight interchanges, supported by the largest dedicated fleet of vehicles in the country, enables us to deliver terminal to terminal rail solutions and highly efficient rail to door and door to rail services for our customers who are looking for long term, supply chain protection and sustainable transport solutions.”