The urgent need to upgrade the Southampton to Reading route to allow the growing number of 9’6” containers to be carried on conventional rail wagons to meet the West Coast mainline has been publicly recognised in Network Rail’s ‘Route Utilisation Strategy’ which was launched on 21st March.

SCT has been working close with ABP, the South Eastern England Development Agency, SEEDA, Network Rail, OOCL and Freightliner, the “Core Delivery Team” to emphasise the need and build a robust business case to persuade the Department for Transport, DfT, to allocate funds for the development through the newly created Transport Innovation Fund , TIF.

TIF funds will be available from 2008 to assist projects which clearly demonstrate a contribution to national and regional productivity as well as value for money and environmental benefits and work is proceeding at full pace to ensure a bid submission meets the June 30th deadline.  The bid will be in competition with other regional and national projects and therefore the announcement by Network Rail that that some projects are  ‘urgently needed’ and that the enhancement of the route from Southampton falls within their ‘three year’ category, provides a very positive signal in favour of the bid.

Patrick Walters, SCT Managing Director, said “SCT welcomes this very encouraging statement from Network Rail, and we will be working hard with our core delivery partners to ensure that the best possible business case is made to persuade the DfT of the urgent need for this upgrade to support our customers’ growing business and the rapid growth of 9’6” boxes.”