Network Rail has announced plans to boost freight capacity on the Western route as part of an ambitious five-year plan.
The move ultimately aims to take vehicles off the road, providing a sustainable alternative for heavy goods transportation.
As part of this work, Network Rail is partnering with the Ashville Group to open a new freight yard adjacent to the company’s existing aggregate base.
The project will revive an out-of-use rail siding so the Ashville Group can place more loads onto freight trains. The move will boost capacity to 26 freight wagons – up from 24.
“Rail freight is a vital part of our infrastructure, providing a fast, green, safe and efficient way of transporting goods,” said Jess Lippett, senior regional freight manager for Network Rail’s Wales and Western region.
“The project at Thorney Mill is a great example of partnership working, allowing us to help expand the site for the Ashville Group, which will in turn enable freight operators to carry greater loads.”
Without the use of the sidings, the Ashville Group must use a section of branch line to manoeuvre to and from the loading area, so the new capacity will enable increased maintenance access, thus improving infrastructure reliability for freight operators.
The new layout will also allow freight trains to complete a ‘run around’ on site – reducing journey times and carbon emissions.
Lippett added: “The new sidings will open up the potential for different types of material to be transported all across the UK, while increasing the number of trains that can use the site each day.
“In the Wales and Western region, we have plans to grow freight capacity by 7%, taking heavy goods off the roads and reducing the carbon footprint of each journey. Just one freight train can remove up to 76 lorries from the roads, which every tonne of material carried by rail reducing carbon emissions by 75% when compared with road transport.”
The Ashville Group also has plans to introduce solar power at its yard to build further on the project’s green credentials.
Image credit: Network Rail
Video credit: Network Rail
