On 18 December 2006, the Government announced that the gauge enhancement work needed between Southampton and the West Coast Mainline has strong potential to provide a significant benefit to national productivity and to demonstrate high value for money.

The Department for Transport will now work with Network Rail and other stakeholders* to take forward work on the detailed case for Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) funding for the gauge enhancement works.

Commenting on this latest announcement, Derek Smith Business Development Manager, SCT, said:

“SCT welcomes the recent announcement by the Government about potential TIF funding for the essential upgrade works needed to the rail network between Southampton and the West Coast Mainline.  SCT handles approximately 29% of containers by rail and would like to see this figure substantially grow but the current rail infrastructure out of Southampton limits the ability of rail operators to carry 9’6” containers without specialised rail wagons.”

*Other stakeholders include SCT, ABP, Freightliner, EWS, Hampshire Economic Partnership, Maersk Line and OOCL.