Joint study with the Rail Authorities

Two White Papers, ‘The Future of Rail’ and ‘The Future of Transport: A Network for 2030’, were published in July 2004. The White Papers set out the Government’s commitment to encouraging rail freight. Rail growth is being recognised as an important contribution to a sustainable development strategy.

A major consideration in assessing the impacts of the Felixstowe South reconfiguration (‘FSR’) was the ability to move containers on the national rail network in line with Government policy, and HPUK’s aspiration to facilitate the movement of freight by rail. In response to the FSR proposals, a joint study team, comprising HPUK and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), with input from Network Rail, was formed to examine and report on the impacts arising from FSR. The study looked at rail capacity and gauge clearance requirements (i.e. works to bridges and stations). At the FSR Inquiry, it was agreed between HPUK and the SRA that, to accommodate both the additional rail traffic generated by FSR, and the natural growth in rail freight movements to/from the Port, works on the national rail network would be required. These include:

• gauge clearance works on the East Coast Main Line to Doncaster;
  
  
• works to increase the freight capacity of the Felixstowe Branch Line (FBL) and the marshalling yard in Ipswich.
  
  

It was agreed that HPUK would fund these capacity enhancement schemes.

The Works

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 peak hour in each direction; these capacity restrictions exist mainly because the FBL is a single-track rail line.

Currently, 28 freight trains run from the Port each day. The permission for the FBL is to dual a 7km 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 will include the following features:

• a new crossover where the existing port link connects to the FBL at Trimley;
  
  
• dualling of a 7km 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 and improvement of level crossings to accommodate the additional track, and minor modifications to pedestrian crossings;
  
  
• new signalling installations.

Works at the Ipswich marshalling yard

The Order gives permission to construct three 24-wagon sidings within the existing Ipswich marshalling yard, running adjacent to Ranelagh Road. The works will involve alterations to the track layout of existing non-electrified sidings. This will increase the capacity of the Ipswich marshalling yard to accommodate additional freight trains, and will allow all trains to be up to 24 standard wagons in length, thereby improving the efficiency of services.

Passenger & Freight Services

The current pattern of rail services to/from the Port of Felixstowe takes over 240,000 lorry journeys from the region’s busy roads. The capacity enhancements proposed will enable over half a million lorry journeys to be saved by the year 2020.

There will inevitably be some disruption to passenger services during the construction period, but in the long-term services will be unaffected by these proposals. Where disruption is programmed to occur there will be a process in place giving notice of the disruption and of any alternative provision to be provided such notices and provisions will be as agreed with Network Rail and the service Operator at the time.

The capacity enhancement to the FBL and the Ipswich marshalling yard will allow up to 40 freight trains per day to run in each direction by the year 2020.