The £750 million project will see Maritime Transport develop a 40-acre new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) capable of handling 16 trains per day at full capacity. This shift from road to rail is expected to remove over 83 million HGV miles from the UK’s road network annually, potentially saving around 70,120 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The new terminal will be situated alongside 7 million square feet of warehouse facilities and will strengthen rail freight connections between the Midlands and major UK ports including Felixstowe, Liverpool, London Gateway, Southampton, Teesport, and Mossend (serving Scotland).
The project is currently awaiting approval of a Development Consent Order from the Secretary of State for Transport, with a decision expected in September 2024.
“We are delighted to agree terms with Tritax Symmetry to become the long-term operator of the new SRFI, in planning, at HNRFI,” said John Williams, Executive Chairman of Maritime Transport. “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.”
Maggie Simpson, Director General of the Rail Freight Group, also welcomed the news. She stressed the importance of a national network of SRFIs for achieving the UK government’s goal of modal shift from road to rail freight.
“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.”