Rail freight

Hull dock rail improvements - work begins

Work to boost capacity on the Hull Docks freight line from ten to 22 trains in each direction daily begins on 3 November.

The £14.5m investment is being jointly funded Network Rail, The Northern Way and Yorkshire Forward. It is the first stage of a package of improvements designed to improve rail freight access to Associated British Ports' (ABP) facilities at Hull and Immingham; bringing substantial economic and environmental benefits to the region.

The work involves:

• installing a brand new signalling system to replace the current token operated one, allowing for faster and freer traffic movement

• doubling one mile of track to smooth the flow of traffic into the port

• strengthening 15 bridges

• removing one bridge entirely at Ella Street (involving closing a railway access road)

• strengthening one mile of embankment

• major track and other works on the Hull river bridge

• smoothing and realigning the whole six miles of track

• installing a new double junction at Hessle Road where the freight line joins the passenger route to Hull

Dyan Crowther, Route Director for Network Rail said: "We know how important freight routes are in supporting the ports as they expand to meet international demand. This work is the first step in a package of improvements which will allow the ports at Hull and Immingham to continue to expand in their key market areas. Other supporting works, such as improved fencing, are being carried out at the same time to further improve the railway environment and discourage trespassers. We are working closely with the council and local partners to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum."

The work on the Hull Docks line is scheduled to be complete in May 2008.

John Jarvis, representing the Northern Way and Yorkshire Forward, said: "The Humber Ports contribute over £250 million a year to the regional economy and support over 47,000 jobs. Increasing the capacity of the Hull Docks Branch Line is an important first step in improving rail access to the Humber Ports as a whole. This is an important priority in the Regional Economic Strategy, for the Northern Way and for the country as a whole. The North's ports handle over one third of UK port traffic and in the Humber we have the UK's leading port complex. The investment that Yorkshire Forward, the Northern Way and other partners are making in improving rail access will increase the ports’ economic contribution and support international trade and jobs and businesses in the region and across the north."

Chris Geldard, ABP's Head of Rail Development, commented: "ABP has invested, and continues to invest, in the development of new terminals and facilities at its Port in Hull. This investment will support the additional handling capacity we have added to our ports by enabling ever-increasing volumes of cargo to be moved efficiently in and out of the port. This is integral to facilitating the future growth of trade at the port and for the region's economy, for which the ports serve as a major gateway for trade to Europe and the rest of the world."

Letters will be sent to local residents, advising them of when potentially noisy or disruptive works will be carried out. Contractors will do everything possible to minimise the impact of the work.

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