Rail Freight Project in the Midlands Under Threat

UK Transport Secretary Louise Haigh is prepared to reject permission for the construction of the £750 million Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange if the developer fails to provide additional information, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Tritax Symmetry, the company behind the project, is required to submit new data regarding expected traffic impacts by December 10 in order to advance the process.

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A final decision is expected by March 10, 2025.

The Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange is a strategic project aimed at improving logistics in the country. The facility is planned to be located along the two-track railway between Hinckley and Leicester, becoming part of the important “F2N” route connecting Felixstowe and Nuneaton.

The project will enable the handling of up to 16 freight trains, each 775 meters long, daily. The site is also set to include warehouse facilities covering a total of 850,000 square meters.

Developers claim that the advantageous location of the interchange, close to major terminals in Southampton, Liverpool, and the Humber estuary, will provide direct connections to key transport hubs.

Additionally, plans include building access roads to the M69 motorway, which links the M6 with the M1 via Leicester. This will make the new interchange a critical part of the UK’s transport network.

However, the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has raised several concerns about the project’s impact on local roads. Their report indicates that while the project will bring significant economic benefits, it also highlights risks to road safety.

There are also shortcomings in the development of new access routes. The report notes that the impact on key motorway junctions, such as M69 J2 and M1 J21/M69 J3, has not been adequately assessed.

This is worrying, as some of these junctions are already operating at capacity, increasing the risk of traffic accidents. The Planning Inspectorate requires more detailed information on these issues.

Questions have also been raised about the sustainable transport strategy.

Experts believe the project misses opportunities to promote environmentally friendly transportation, which diminishes its appeal in terms of sustainable development.

Furthermore, construction could negatively impact the living conditions of some local residents, particularly those near the proposed noise barrier.

The project remains controversial, and its future depends on the developer providing detailed information on all the issues raised.

Photo, source: newcivilengineer

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