Renovation of Barking Eurohub in London begins

The redevelopment of Barking Eurohub in London has officially begun, with the aim of transforming the site into a modern international rail freight hub. This initiative, supported by the British government, aims to expand rail freight and re-establish direct channel freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel. The £15 million investment marks the start of a three-year program intended to improve the infrastructure of the Eurohub, as stated by Network Rail, the British developer and operator of rail infrastructure.

Conversion to an intermodal freight center

The 40-hectare site will be transformed into an intermodal freight facility. This will include an intermodal terminal capable of accommodating both containers and liftable truck trailers. Additionally, a campus for related distribution and storage activities will be established. Upon completion of the work, Barking Eurohub is expected to serve as a hub for freight traffic to and from markets in continental Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

According to Network Rail, the redevelopment measures include the removal of old sidings that currently restrict the use of the site. Furthermore, more than five hectares of land will be freed up, and new tracks for continental freight trains will be created. These measures are intended to improve train flow through the terminal.

Another aspect of the redevelopment is the adaptation of freight tracks and intermodal terminal connections to handle continental freight trains of up to 700 meters in length. This represents an increase compared to the current operational limit of about 350 to 400 meters. By enabling the use of longer trains, the capacity of the terminal will be increased, which is expected to lead to enhanced efficiency in rail freight transport.

www.networkrail.co.uk