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The government will announce today that some £15 million from private sources is to be invested in the Barking Eurohub, so that regular freight trains can start running through the Channel Tunnel again.

Network Rail and its new property development company Platform4 will take long-term control of the Barking site, which is currently owned by Legal & General.

Possible cargos include Scotch, white goods and consumer goods manufactured in Britain which would be exported to the continent, while trains running the other way could bring fresh fruit and vegetables from countries like Spain and the Netherlands.

A modal shift to rail would also help to reduce congestion on the roads, particularly in the south east at the Dartford Crossing and on the M20 and M2 corridors.

Rail minister Lord Hendy said: ‘This deal is a huge opportunity to reinvigorate rail freight by paving the way for the return of regular services through the Channel Tunnel.

‘It will boost British businesses by opening new trade links to Europe by delivering a faster and more sustainable way to transport goods to the continent and back.

‘This is all part of our plan to use our railways to support economic growth and jobs.’

Industry minister Chris McDonald added: ‘This significant investment will strengthen UK supply chains and support jobs across the country by deepening trade links with our closest partner and biggest market in the EU.

‘This project will help deliver more sustainable trade and build more reliable connections for the almost 100,000 UK businesses that export to the EU, while creating new opportunities for others here at home.’

Network Rail chief executive Jeremy Westlake said: ‘Freight is fundamental to the future of our railway, and this landmark agreement highlights the central role it will play as we transition to Great British Railways.

‘By securing Barking Eurohub and unlocking more than £15 million of private investment, we’re putting in place the infrastructure needed to restore regular cross Channel intermodal freight services – supporting British businesses and trade, while also helping to protect our environment.’

Readers’ comments

So good to see developments in the intermodal realms. ISO container by rail to and from the deep seaports is a great success, it seems. On the other hand, merchandise transport within GB and into the Continent is still mostly with the HGV. There is also the situation whereby many factories and warehouses have docking facilities more suited to HGVs than to containers. Charterail was a system that could take HGV semitrailers on special rail wagons with a ‘well’ for the road wheels. It was tried between 1990 and 1992 but the operator claimed BR levied too heavy a charge for locomotive and path. There is a similar system in France called ‘Modalohr’.

David C. Smith, Bletchley

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