02.01.13
Go-ahead secured for Radlett freight terminal
A rail freight terminal at Radlett in Hertfordshire has been granted planning permission by communities’ secretary Eric Pickles.
The move could enable a much higher proportion of freight use on the network. The £400m intermodal interchange has been welcomed by transport groups and campaigners.
The project includes an intermodal terminal and road and rail served distribution units, situated with good transport links and will be the only major freight interchange in the north and west quadrants around London.
Chris MacRae, the Freight Transport Association’s rail freight policy manager, said: “Rail freight terminals are the freight network’s equivalent of passenger stations: so this decision is a good Christmas present for the freight industry and helps modal shift and the environment.”
Maggie Simpson, Rail Freight Group executive director, said: “This is great news for the rail freight sector, and for those businesses, particularly in the retail sector, who want to increase the use of rail in their supply chains. Radlett has been in the planning system for over a decade, and we are delighted that it has finally reached a positive conclusion. We congratulate the developers on their perseverance.”
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