Driving the switch rail

October 2nd 2009

The first stages of a complex two-year project have got underway, aiming to transfer up to 50,000 container freight journeys a year from the UK's roads onto the railway.

Network Rail, which is delivering the £71 million scheme, is carrying out work at almost 50 sites between Southampton and Nuneaton.

Currently around 25% of the containers handled by the Port of Southampton are moved by rail. Increasing this figure will involve the network being able to accommodate 9' 6" or ‘high-cube' containers which are the most economical method for shipping goods, particularly from the Far East.
The route will take freight trains to the West Coast Main Line near Nuneaton via Winchester, Basingstoke, Didcot, Banbury and Warwick. Over the next two years, improvement works are due to be carried out to those structures along this route which currently have insufficient clearances.

"It is important that rail remains an efficient and cost-effective way of transporting freight" says Richard O'Brien, Network Rail's route director for Wessex. "The upgrade of the route is vital in achieving this. In addition, it will help meet the government's objectives to ease traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions by transferring freight from road to rail."

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