The UK’s newest rail freight interchange, iPort Rail, will be open for business from January. Developers say this state-of-the-art 337-acre facility will transform the sector, with its size and capacity putting it in the top five national inland ports.

Located within seven hours of all the UK’s deep water ports, iPort Rail, which is at Doncaster in north east England, will be able to accommodate maximum UK train lengths, with one 800-metre long reception siding, two 400-metre handling sidings and a head-shunt and refuge siding, capable of handling up to six trains a day.

International transports

The site, which will have 24/7 access for customers, will also initially have storage capacity for 1,500 TEUs, but this will rise to 3,000 when the number of sidings increase. It also has a reach stacker operation with a 115-tonne front axle load. Crucially, it is also a Security Approved Channel Tunnel Freight Forwarder, which means it is a designated secure facility for international transports.

Steve Freeman, Managing Director of iPort Rail, said: “This is going to be a market-leading rail freight hub, with state-of-the-art facilities that will minimise downtime and link quickly both nationally and internationally. The site is now complete and connected to the national rail and motorway networks. Network Rail is currently testing signals and then we will be up and running. There is already a great deal of interest – not just from the main operators who like our independent offer, but other businesses drawn by being integrated into the wider iPort hub.”

‘Raising the bar’

Verdion, developer of iPort Rail, also says the new facility will be ‘raising the bar’ when it comes to the issue of the environment and logistics, as John Clements, European Development Director explained: “Efficiency, cost effectiveness and providing exactly the facility our customers require will always be at the forefront of our plans for iPort Rail but that doesn’t mean that environmental credentials need to suffer.

“From new reach stackers employing the latest technology in fuel consumption, management and emission to the wildlife reserv,e Verdion has created next to the site to offset the environmental impact of the iPort logistics park, we will be taking as many steps as possible towards greener development and helping to reassure customers of our commitment to high environmental standards.”