The company has announced it will run the proposed £750m rail hub

The £750m rail hub planned for land near Hinckley will be run by a major UK logistics company if the scheme gets the go-ahead from the Secretary of State for Transport, it has been announced. If planning permission is granted, Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI), proposed by developer Tritax Symmetry, would be a major rail hub with nine depots and a rail terminal that could handle up to 16 trains each day.

Tritax revealed this week that Maritime Transport Ltd will build and operate the rail terminal on the 40-acre site, if given the go-ahead. The plan will be decided by the government, rather than local councils, as it is considered to be of national importance. The Secretary of State for Transport is due to announce the decision in September.

A new access and truck park would be created next to the M69 at Junction 2. Tritax says that if the scheme is approved, it will open up links between Leicestershire and the Midlands with ports such as Felixstowe, Liverpool, London Gateway, Southampton, Teesport and Mossend, which serves Scotland. Shipping is based in Felixstowe, which is the UK’s largest container terminal.

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Tritax says the hub will remove more than 83 million miles of HGV journeys from UK roads and that goods switched from road to rail could mean a carbon saving of 70,120 tonnes a year.

But the plans have proved controversial locally, with a councilor saying it could cause long commuter delays for people traveling from the county to work in Leicester every day. A public consultation on the scheme saw it called a “monstrosity”, with one respondent saying it would “destroy a significant area”.

However, there are people who believe it would be beneficial for the local area, with one person saying it would “inject vitality” into the local economy and another adding: “If it provides access to and from the M69 to reduce traffic flow in Burbage. then I think it’s a great idea.”

Speaking about the decision to appoint Maritime Transport to lead the hub, Jonathan Wallis, Director at Tritax Symmetry, said: “Maritime Transport’s commitment to an SRFI at this early stage is a significant first for the sector and reflects the utmost confidence in the suitability of the location for rail freight from the UK’s leading provider of road and rail freight locations.

“In addition to Maritime Transport’s full support, we are excited about the potential of this prime location for rail logistics, which we believe will see strong demand for large-scale, flexible, modern and low-carbon space.”

John Williams, Executive Chairman of Maritime Transport, said: “We are delighted to agree a deal with Tritax Symmetry to become the long-term operator of the planned new SRFI (rail interchange) at HNRFI. This development will strengthen our rail network and our strategy to decarbonise the UK’s full freight supply chain, bringing goods closer to the end user by rail.”

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