The first commercial freight train has travelled along the East West Rail line as part of its journey into a new strategic rail freight interchange in Northampton.
Shortly after 13:00 yesterday (Monday 16 June) the service from Didcot came onto the new infrastructure at Oxford, travelling the 35 miles to Milton Keynes to connect with the West Coast Main Line.
It marked the first time East West Rail infrastructure has been used for commercial freight, after many months of signaller training and train driver learning since the £1.2bn railway was completed in October 2024.
The inaugural journey was part of a dual first, as it also saw the entry into service of Maritime Transport’s Northampton Gateway terminal.
This Easter Network Rail completed its work there to join the 35-acre freight facility directly to the West Coast Main Line via the Northampton Loop.
The modern junction design allows freight trains to enter and exit the site at speeds of up to 40mph, which is eight times faster than conventional freight connections.
Clearing the railway junction much faster will significantly improve both passenger and freight journeys – as it reduces the impact on other services running on the main line.
Gary Walsh, Director for Network Rail’s West Coast South route, said: “Running the first commercial freight train into Northampton Gateway using East West Rail infrastructure is a big step forward.”
“The new rail link has been designed to let trains move in and out at speeds of up to 40mph, which is much faster than usual for freight terminals.”
This means less disruption to passenger services and a smoother, more efficient railway overall. It’s a great example of how smart infrastructure can support greener transport and decrease the number of heavy goods vehicles on our roads.”
John Bailey, Managing Director – Intermodal, Maritime Transport, said: "The arrival of our first service via EWR is an important step in expanding UK rail freight capacity, providing businesses with a direct, low-carbon route from Southampton to the heart of the UK’s golden logistics triangle. This development demonstrates how infrastructure and private-sector investment can deliver a more efficient and sustainable supply chain, while easing pressure on a congested road network."
The twin milestones are a significant moment for East West Rail, a programme designed to improve the connectivity between Oxford and Cambridge.
The first of three phases of East West Rail is a new £1.2bn section of railway which will restore train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes for passengers and goods – also known as Connection Stage One.
Earlier this year the Department for Transport named Chiltern Railways as the operator for passenger services which will run on the route in future.
Image & video credits: Network Rail
