Midlands to Solent corridor

NETWORK Rail (NR) and Highways England (HE) have published the first phase of a multimodal freight strategy covering the corridor between The Solent and the Midlands.

NR says the similar routes taken by rail and the A34 road between the two areas has made it a good candidate for analysis.

The study forms part of the long-term planning process for NR and HE, and concludes that while road connections are critical for local journeys, rail is most cost-effective over longer distances and for carrying greater loads. It also shows that the shift of traffic to rail for longer journeys can relieve road pressure along the corridor.

Next steps include assessing options for the growth of the rail freight market from The Solent and decarbonisation of freight movements in the area.