£69m plan to boost rail freight capacity

Business leaders have welcomed plans to increase rail freight capacity to the Midlands with £69m worth of improvements.

The Department for Transport yesterday announced significant investment in railway services across the north and the Midlands, including plans to pump £317m into the set-piece Transpennine route.

As part of the proposals, £69 million will be invested into increasing freight capacity between the Port of Southampton and the Midlands in a move designed to boost economic growth.

Raj Kandola, head of policy at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “This much needed investment couldn 't come at a better time - it 's absolutely vital we modernise our railway system as we look to build back better.

“By improving capacity on the network, not only will this help to reduce congestion on our roads but also play a massive part in driving down emissions. ”