In images: New rail freight interchange

For the last nine days, Network Rail engineers have worked day and night to allow future freight trains to travel from one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight routes to the new SEGRO logistics park in Northampton.

The work has seen new track, points and signalling systems installed to connect the existing railway to the new sidings at the under-construction freight facility. When complete next year, the SEGRO facility will provide 5M ft2 of warehouse space and employ up to 7,000 people. The new railway connection, which will be used by freight company Maritime, will see thousands of tonnes of goods switch between rail and road beside Junction 15 of the M1 motorway every day.

Once operational, four freight trains will serve the new Northampton interchange each day, with the capacity for more in future. Each freight train is said to take up to 76 heavy good vehicles off the road, making it a greener way to transport economically important goods around the country. Network Rail has thanked passengers for their patience during the work which has seen some changes to journeys.

Drone shot of new freight connection in Northampton.

A view of the future container storage area at the new Northampton terminal. 

Located alongside the West Coast Main Line (seen to the left of this image), the road/rail interchange promises a rapid connection with the M1 motorway.

A Road/Rail vehicle carries engineers across newly-installed points on the West Coast Main Line.

Freight trains will enter the Northampton terminal through this newly-constructed concrete tunnel.

Newly-ballasted track, with new points is evident in the view, as plant and machinery remains in-situ to complete the terminal.

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