Plans for the Felixstowe Branch Line

The SRA and Network Rail have assessed the capacity of the FBL in detail. At present, there is capacity for approximately one freight service and one passenger service per hour in each direction; these capacity restrictions exist mainly because the FBL is a single-track rail line.

Currently, 24 freight trains run from the Port each day. The proposal for the FBL is to dual a 4 1/4-mile stretch of the existing single-track line between Trimley Station and a point west of Levington Bridge, to provide additional rail capacity. The engineering work is likely to include some or all of the following features:

• a new crossover where the existing port link connects to the FBL at Trimley;
  
  
• dualling of a 4 1/4-mile stretch of the existing single-track line between Trimley Station and a point west of Levington Bridge;
  
  
• a new railway junction to connect the western end of the new track to the existing FBL;
  
  
• the widening of six level crossings to accommodate the additional track, and minor modifications to pedestrian crossings;
  
  
• the widening of two bridges, one at Nacton and one over the A14;
  
  
• a new signalling installation.