Peterborough set for rail hub

Date: 9/12/2009

A new plan has been unveiled that could see Peterborough becoming a major rail freight hub in a move that would ease congestion on the East Coast Main Line rail network.

According to the Peterborough Evening Telegraph, South Holland district council is considering releasing up to £5,000 in funding to help establish a new rail hub at the proposed Spalding International Food Park, which is to become a distribution base for South Lincolnshire food companies.

Network Rail is currently considering upgrading the line between Peterborough and Lincoln, which runs through Spalding, so that the line will be able to take freight trains.

Such a move would help free up the East Coast Main Line and could ultimately result in more passenger services being put on along the route, which provides an important link between London and the east coast of the UK up to Edinburgh in Scotland.

The government has recently brought proposals for a new high-speed rail link back onto the agenda, after previously dismissing the idea as too expensive.

A new high-speed rail service could significantly cut journey times between London and Scotland, although no route has been confirmed for the initiative as yet.