Campaigners against the Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange are hoping to reach 10,000 signatures on a petition aimed at stopping Hertfordshire County Council selling the land to HelioSlough.
The terminal is important for the strategic develop of rail freight as it will be the only major rail freight interchange in the North and West quadrants around London and should enable a much higher proportion of freight to use rail.
The petition currently has some 8,400 signatures and action group STRIFE (Stop the Rail Freight Exchange) aims to trigger a council debate on the issue.
The government said it would back the £400m rail freight terminal at the former Radlett aerodrome near St Albans just before Christmas.
The decision by Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government was been welcomed by industry organisations including the Freight Transport Association and the Rail Freight Group.
