To support the forecast growth of container traffic handled by the Port of Felixstowe, and specifically the completed Phases I & II of the Felixstowe South Reconfiguration, the proposed rail enhancements will allow up to 40 freight trains per day to run in each direction and will help to achieve a rail modal share of 26% - taking some 500,000 lorry movements off the roads.

In 2008, the Felixstowe Branch Line and Ipswich Yard Improvement Order ("the 2008 Order") received permission from the Secretary of State for Transport and came into force. The Order facilitates works to the Felixstowe branch line through the dualling of a 7km stretch of the existing single-track line between Trimley Station and a point west of Levington Bridge, to construct three 24-wagon sidings within the existing Ipswich marshalling yard, and to undertake some modifications at Westerfield level crossing. The Order is valid for a period of 5 years.

In February 2010 an application was made to the local planning authorities, Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council to extend the time limit for the implementation of the scheme Under the 2008 Order to 31 December 2018. The planning permissions for the works were received later in 2010.

In Summer 2011 an application is being made to the Secretary of State to extend the compulsory purchase powers within the 2008 Order which must currently be exercised by October 2013. The application is to align these provisions with the planning permissions granted for the works in 2010 by Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council.

In parallel with these local rail improvements, HPUK is working closely with Network Rail to fund gauge and capacity improvements to the route between Ipswich and Peterborough and the East Coast Main Line, and its diversionary routes to south Yorkshire.

In addition work will commence later this year on a new state of the art rail terminal within the boundary of the Port which will increase the length of trains that can be handled at the Port which will significantly increase capacity.