Rail engineers are about to move into a vital stage which will see the major new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange in Northampton on the West Coast main line connected.

At present, work is underway to finalise the railway sidings for the already constructed container terminal, which will allow freight operator Maritime to move thousands of tonnes of goods from the road (next to J15 of the M1) to rail each day. The West Coast Mainline is one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway lines and sees 40% of UK freight traffic.

Network Rail has released drone footage today (9th Aug) which reveals where a link will be made to the interchange at SEGRO Logistics Park which will see construction begin shortly. The vast warehousing space of 5 million square feet will be complete in 2024 and will provide around 7,000 jobs.

Once operational, the interchange will see four freight trains serve it each day with further capacity available in the future. Each freight train which operates removes up to 76 HGVs off of the busy road network and offers a more environmentally friendly option for moving goods across the UK.

So far, the project has carried out all work with no disruption to the running of the railway, however, this next stage will involve some changes to passenger services.

September will see rail engineers connect the interchange to the West Coast Mainline between Milton Keynes and Northampton. and will involve the complex installation of new tracks, points and signalling systems.

In order to carry out the work in a safe and efficient manner, the railway will be closed between Saturday the 2nd to Sunday the 10th of September and will see no direct rail services operating between North Wales and London. During the period of work, journeys will take longer than usual due to diversionary routes, which may see rail replacement buses in operation alongside changes to timetables.

Passengers travelling between Saturday the 2nd and Sunday the 10th of September are advised

to plan their journeys ahead and also to check ahead of travelling using National Rail or by visiting  Network Rail’s dedicated webpage.

James Dean, West Coast South route director, said:

“We’re delighted to continue working closely with freight partners in delivering this new Strategic Railfreight Interchange at Northampton. This will help deliver better, faster, stronger services to support Britain’s economy and the decarbonisation of transport.”

“I’d urge anyone planning to travel between 2-10 September to please check National Rail Enquiries to plan their journeys. I’d also like to thank passengers in advance for their patience.”

Barry Milsom, Avanti West Coast executive director of operations and safety, said:

“While this important phase of work takes place, we’ll be operating a slightly reduced timetable. As a result, our trains may be busier, so customers making journeys between 2 and 10 September are advised to plan ahead, reserve a seat and check before they travel. We would like to thank customers for their patience as Network Rail delivers a sustainable transport option for freight on the West Coast main line.”

Jonny Wiseman, London Northwestern Railway customer experience director, said:

“There will be significant changes to our timetable for a full week as a result of these important upgrades, and I urge passengers to plan their journeys carefully in advance. Rail replacement buses will be running between Milton Keynes and Northampton, so passengers travelling during this period should leave extra time.”

Kate Bedson, SEGRO senior director of national logistics, said:

“The Strategic Rail Freight Interchange is a central part of the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton development and we look forward to the connection to the rail network being completed so that the terminal can be operational ahead of the first customer occupying the first warehouse. We are confident that the short-term disruption while this vital work is undertaken will be far outweighed by the longer-term benefits of the overall development and the rail freight capability at this location.”

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 a 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.”