The Rail Freight Corridor North Sea – Mediterranean, is to be extended to London by November 2016, and Network Rail is joining the RFC North Sea – Med management board, saying it will make it easier to run more freight trains between the UK and mainland Europe.
The extension makes planning freight services simpler and easier through a ‘one-stop shop’ for freight operators to book pre-planned freight paths connecting London with the continent. Operators will also be better informed about infrastructure, maintenance and repair work across the continent as information is more easily shared along the corridor.
Paul McMahon, Network Rail freight director, said: “This is good news for Britain’s rail freight industry and our economy. We have been preparing for this for the last few years and I now look forward to working with our partners in the corridor and freight operators to support the growth of rail freight between continental Europe and Great Britain.
“Our network is extremely busy and we now carry 30 per cent more freight than we did in 2012. We want to grow that figure, strengthening our economy. The RFC North Sea – Med is considered one of the main routes for freight into Europe and is key to that plan.”
