PLANS to boost the number of trains carrying freight into and out of the Humber ports are just the beginning of up to £60m improvements to the region's rail network, business leaders said yesterday.
In future large amounts of imported coal will leave Hull by train as a result of investment in an important branch line.
Improvements to a second rail link between Brigg and north Nottinghamshire will also allow the movement of regular scheduled freight, taking mostly coal to Cottam and West Burton power stations, avoiding the bottle-neck at Doncaster.
Three other multi-million pound projects, which involve other freight rail improvements, are in the early stages of planning and further announcements will be made on other projects later this year.
Associated British Ports' head of rail development Chris Geldard said: "The way the whole energy market is moving suggests demands for coal will continue well beyond the current projection of 2015 (national consumption then is estimated to be 50,455 tonnes) and they are likely to do so for at least a further 10 years as clean-burn technology improves."
He added: "For ABP it is excellent as it gives us a chance to maximise our investments both at the ports of Immingham and Hull."
The £13.1m improvements to the Hull Docks Branch Line funded by the taxpayer and Network Rail will allow it to carry a maximum of 22 freight trains daily up from 10.
In future the trains will mainly carry coal from a new £50m bulk terminal, expected to open at the eastern limit of the port in 2008/2009, as well as containers coming into the Humber from the Far East and China via transhipment from Rotterdam, Antwerp and Southampton, another area experiencing significant growth.
Operators are being finalised for a new £30m container terminal in the port.
All the coal from the bulk terminal will leave the port by rail and Mr Geldard said extra freight movements should not add to the congestion on Hedon Road, the main artery from the ports and onto the A63. "A good proportion of the new volume will go out by rail and avoid traffic going onto Hedon Road," he said.
Meanwhile the underutilised Brigg Line, which has only has three scheduled passenger services a week, will undergo £10m strengthening and upgrading, funded by Network Rail, so it can be used five-and-a-half days a week and carry up to 70 freight services, relieving pressure on the West Coast Main Line.
The Humber Economic Partnership Ltd project director Stephen Taylor said: "The Humber is the UK's busiest trading complex with over 88m tonnes of cargo handled per annum.
"Investment into the transport links to/from the Humber's hinterland is essential for sustainable economic growth."
The Yorkshire Post Road to Ruin campaign has highlighted the importance of the region's ports and how poor funding for transport is affecting businesses.
