The impact of freight and logistics is having a significant positive impact on the economy of the Midlands[1], with transport body Midlands Connect[2] leading the way in researching how the demands of the transport sector are changing.
The Midlands is …
As the first full week of November arrives, here are the planned roadworks and closures in Northamptonshire this week beginning Monday, November 6. Regardless of where you are heading, there is nothing more annoying than being delayed by roadworks.
Sev…
Bath Rugby have signed former Jersey Reds full-back Brendan Owen on a short-term contract with immediate effect, the club have officially confirmed.
The 27-year-old South African, who began his career at the Blue Blues, was a free agent after the Reds …
Eight BBC local radio stations have lost over a quarter of listeners in the last two years, with BBC Radio Kent seeing the biggest decline, according to the latest audience figures. BBC local radio reached over 7.3 million people in the three months to…
Jubilee class No. 45596 Bahamas is set to visit Manchester[1] this Saturday (21st October) as it hauls The Mancunian from London[2] Euston.
Departing London Euston[3] at 07:12, the locomotive will pass through Harrow and Wealdstone[4] (07:28), Watford …
A Market Harborough man targeted vulnerable victims[1] in a series of distraction burglaries. William Wallace committed the offences in the same area and on the same day before being caught.
Wallace, of Leicester Road, Market Harborough[2], targeted th…
A drink driver who went head-on into another vehicle while more than three times the legal limit has been disqualified. Frank Weitner, 42, of Knaphill Crescent, Northampton, was driving a white Renault van along the B645 at Hail Weston on May 15 at aro…
Diversion route for A14 crash
National Highways has shared a diversion route following the crash on the A14 earlier today.
A spokesperson said: “Cambridgeshire Constabulary are on scene dealing with a collision, with National Highways service providers…
‘Significant’ milestones have been reached on the NWRR including the installation of this bridge near Kentstone Close, Kingsthorpe (Photo: Logan MacLeod)
An update on a controversial multi-million pound relief road in Northampton reveals ‘significa…
A massive recruitment camRoyal Mail is hiring 16,000 temporary workers to help out with deliveries around Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmaspaign has been launched to recruit Royal Mail seasonal workers – with some shifts landing as much as £17 a…
St James Park has plenty on offer pre-matched to keep the whole family entertained and to make sure your St James Park experience is extra special.
Apart from the football our additional attraction this Saturday is Lez the Fez with his roving magic and…
The civil engineering is impressive – how much more of it will the HS2 project generate? (Photo: Submitted)That the project should be the subject of the PM’s commentary has, of course, prompted some to speculate that there is a particular reason for re…
A reckless driver was clocked at 162mph in his Porsche – thought to be one of the highest speeds ever recorded by police. Christopher Debono, 62, was filmed hurtling along the A43 bypass in Corby, Northamptonshire, on May 19.
Officers from Northamptons…
Major work to connect the in-progress rail freight interchange in Northampton to the mainline has been completed.
The West Coast main line was closed from September 2 until September 10, with no direct services between North Wales[1] and London[2], while the work took place.
On Monday (September 11), the line reopened after nine days of work, which included installation of new track, points and signalling systems to connect the existing railway to the new sidings at the under-construction freight facility. This will allow future freight trains to travel from one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight routes to the new SEGRO logistics park in Northampton.
The rail interchange in Northampton has been connected to the mainline.
James Dean[3], Network Rail[4]‘s West Coast South route director, said: “Connecting this new freight interchange to the mainline railway network is a huge milestone and shows our commitment to working with freight operators to moving more goods in the most environmentally friendly way possible – by rail.
“We know this work has meant longer journeys for passengers over the last nine days, so I’d like to thank everyone impacted for bearing with us while we carried out this important work which will benefit both the environment and the economy in future.”
Jonny Wiseman, London Northwestern Railway customer experience director, added: “I would like to thank passengers for their patience while these important engineering works were completed. Services on the West Coast main line are now running to our normal timetable.”
Barry Milsom, Avanti West Coast executive director of operations and safety, continued: “We would like to thank customers for their patience over the last nine days while Network Rail carried out this important work, which will boost sustainable transport opportunities for freight on the West Coast Main Line.”
Drone shot of the new rail freight connection in Northampton.
The new railway connection, which will be used by freight company Maritime, will see thousands of tonnes of goods switch between rail and road beside Junction 15 of the M1 motorway every day.
Once operational, four freight trains will serve the new Northampton interchange each day – with the capacity for more in future.
Teams behind the development say each freight train takes up to 76 heavy good vehicles off the road, making it a much greener way to transport economically important goods around the country.
When complete next year, it will provide five million square ft of warehouse space and employ up to 7,000 people.
Drone shot of West Coast main line and soon to be built freight connection in Northampton.
WATCH: New drone footage of huge rail freight interchange in Northampton as work…
John Williams, Maritime executive chairman, said: “These developments, at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton are important, long-term commitments for Maritime to reduce our environmental footprint by developing a network of low carbon, strategic freight connections across the country to promote modal shift from road to rail for container transport and for domestic distribution, with local distribution by electric-powered trucks.
“Building and operating modern, inland rail freight interchanges, supported by the largest dedicated fleet of vehicles in the country, enables us to deliver terminal to terminal rail solutions and highly efficient rail to door and door to rail services for our customers who are looking for long term, supply chain protection and sustainable transport solutions.”
Further work will now take place with freight operators and developers with the interchange expected to be operational in 2024.