Heathrow freight
Heathrow Airport is considering building a rail freight terminal to take millions of tonnes of cargo off the UK’s roads.
HEATHROW Airport is considering building a rail freight terminal to meet increased cargo demands.
Chris Joyce, Head of Surface Access at the airport, said the plan is to “expand to meet demand in a way that creates a positive impact on our community, environment and economy”.
He told RAIL: “We will be looking at the best way to utilise our offsite logistics hubs and optimise the use of the existing Colnbrook Freight Line, particularly during construction. This will form part of the airport’s Master Plan and future surface access strategy that is currently being developed in partnership with our stakeholders and local community.”
His backing for rail freight follows on from the airport revealing its plans to sit at the heart of the UK passenger rail network ( RAIL 840), with the forthcoming Crossrail and HS2 links.
In 2016, Heathrow handled 1.54 million tonnes of cargo. The airport claims that 65% of UK air freight travels via Heathrow, with much of it then transferred on by road.
Joyce added: “As we grow, freight volumes are set to increase, supporting local businesses and UK exports. Heathrow is working with its partners to develop a sustainable surface access strategy to manage the impact of freight growth, in line with the airport’s Blueprint for Sustainable Freight.”
Nick Gallop, Managing Director of Intermodality, suggested there is an opportunity to use the Colnbrook branch as a bridgehead.
He told RAIL: “With growing recognition by the Department for Transport, Network Rail and industry in the largely untapped potential of rail to deliver high-speed freight services (echoing plans by China and Russia to develop a network of routes across Eurasia), the role of rail in an expanded airport could itself grow into supporting movements of lightweight, high-value commodities via a rail-linked cargo centre.”
Asked if she would support the airport creating a dedicated rail freight terminal, Rail Freight Group Executive Director Maggie Simpson said: “We would encourage the use of rail freight to support the construction of the new runway.”