News

A multi-million-pound project designed to shift hundreds of freight movements off the roads and onto rail near the Humber ports will boost the region's economic growth, according to Network Rail.

The owner and operator of Britain's railway infrastructure says a partnership of organisations have been working together to improve rail freight access to Associated British Ports' (ABP) operations in Hull and Immingham.

More than £23m will be spent improving infrastructure and opening  up rail lines. One link serving Hull will be upgraded to run 12 extra freight trains, each capable of carrying as much as 25 trucks.

Dyan Crowther, route director for Network Rail, says: "The recent Eddington report identified the importance of freight routes in supporting the ports as they expand to meet international demand. The movement of freight by rail from the ports supports the government objectives for the transfer of freight from road to rail where practicable."

Intermodal projects:

• Hull Docks Branch Line: £13.1m is being spent to improve infrastructure, boosting capacity from 10 to 22 trains in each direction per day. Work is due to begin in the summer, lasting up to 12 months.
• South of the Humber Brigg Line: £10m is being invested to allow the movement of regular scheduled freight, mostly coal.