SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN SOUTHAMPTON AREA FREIGHT
Published at 16:54 on Tuesday 13th October 2020
Tags: Southampton, Intermodal, Network Rail, Investment, Department For Transport, DfT
Freightliner Class 66/6 No. 66539 pauses at Eastleigh for a crew change on 15th September 2020, working an intermodal service from Southampton to Manchester Trafford Park. David Ridgway
An additional £17 million is to be invested into a major rail upgrade to freight services in Southampton by the Government.
The announcement was made by Chris Heaton-Harris, the Rail Minister, as the Government looks to support the seamless flow of goods across the country and strengthen links into the docks around Southampton.
Freight services in the Southampton area are currently restricted to a length of 520 metres, while the work undertaken within this investment will allow trains of up to 775 metres. The Government are also emphasising that the improvements also offer a green alternative for local industry, reducing the reliance on road traffic, cutting congestion and increasing the efficiency of industry.
The work is taking place in the Millbrook, Redbridge and Southampton Central areas, with a series of line closures on 30th/31st January and 13th-19th February, to commission the project. New sidings and loops have already been installed, but work remains to be undertaken to the entrance/exit point work, and to amend the signalling system.