Portsmouth Port - Britains best connected ferry port

Background

Portsmouth Commercial Port began planning an Intermodal link for the Port in 1998 with an EC grant under the Trans European Network System (Transport) TEN's (T) scheme.

In 2005, together with 25 other ports and local authorities in France, UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Flanders the Port became partners in IMPACTE (Intermodal Port Access & Commodities Transport in Europe) in order to obtain funding for the Intermodal project. IMPACTE is a group co-funded under the European INTERREG IIIB NEW programme. Led by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) it brings together a partnership of 27 investment, strategic, public sector and research partners from Belgium, England and France. The project includes small-scale investments in port infrastructure and feasibility works to improve Intermodal port access.

For more information, visit http://www.impacte-project.net/about/.

The development of the plot

Fratton goods yard was selected as the most appropriate site for the Intermodal facility.

Because the existing sidings at Fratton are currently too short for the length of train that will be running the Intermodal service the site is being developed. The development will require 425 metres of siding and a 12 metre wide 416 metre long concrete standing. The new siding will come into the site from under Clarke's bridge (Milton Lane) and connect with an extended no. 3 siding within the existing site.

Target market

The target market for Intermodal is unaccompanied vehicles/lorries, tank containers, and containers currently being hauled by road through Portsmouth Port as well as locally generated custom for Portsmouth retail and businesses.

Timing and costing

The first Intermodal freight train from the site is expected to run before the end of the year.

The service is intended to be competitive with road and will receive no subsidy after initial start-up. Increasing congestion and subsequent delays to 'Just in Time' deliveries make rail freight a real alternative to road.

The intention is to run two trains a week with 54 units each way. Train pathways allow Day A-Day B Portsmouth to Widnes, with the freight train arriving on the site before the passenger services start in the morning and leaving around 2200 for a 0600 arrival Widnes.

What Intermodal can achieve

The estimated amount of freight transport that could be taken off the road is 6,000 - 7,000 units per annum within five years.