Rail Freight “Key To Regeneration of UK North”, Say Campaigners

Campaigners in the UK have reacted positively to an official publication which has talked up the economic benefits to the economy of the north of England of upgrading rail freight capacity on the key east-west and north-south routes. Intermodal Freight Strategy is a document published by a range of local government and interested parties in the region known as Transport for the North.

Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail Manager, said: “The publication confirms the importance of rail freight to the North. A combination of rail freight network upgrades and changing UK freight distribution patterns, which favour the north of England, mean that industry should have the confidence to invest in new equipment and build a series of multi-modal rail freight terminals which will link to other regions.”

Key recommendations from the Strategy include:

• Three rail freight slots (paths) per hour in each direction across the Pennines to build an east-west freight corridor to revive the northern ports. 
• Additional capacity on West & East Coast Main Lines, including release of existing West Coast Mainline capacity for freight once HS2 is built. 
• Additional capacity between the north of England and key Southern ports, such as Felixstowe and Southampton.