Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) subsidiary Freightliner has announced plans to build a railroad locomotive maintenance and fuelling facility at its existing freight yard in Ipswich, UK.
The freight rail operator selected Ipswich as the preferred location due to its proximity to the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest maritime port. Freightliner operates 22 trains from this port daily to transport goods across the country.
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Additionally, the company’s existing site at Ipswich has sufficient unused space to accommodate the facility.
The site is also connected to the rail network, which will minimise disruption to Freightliner’s train operations and wider railway services.
G&W Europe Region Engineering and Operations Services director Tim Shakerley said: “There is a growing demand from the government to move more goods by rail.
“Each freight train takes up to 76 lorry journeys off our congested road network and is a far safer means of transport.
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By GlobalData“We take any impact we have on our neighbours and the environment very seriously and have written to local residents to give them full details of our plans and invited them to contact our project team with any questions.”
Construction of the Ipswich maintenance facility will involve a multi-million-pound investment and is expected to support the local economy.
It is estimated to create around 20 skilled and semi-skilled local jobs, as well as support local materials and equipment suppliers.
The maintenance facility will feature a steel-framed building, including an inspection pit, two overhead cranes and an extended on-site car park for employees.
It will also include a wheel lathe for wagon and locomotive wheelsets maintenance.
