First freight train travels into £200 million Northampton Gateway terminal at new high speed of 40mph

Shortly after 1pm on Monday (June 16), the service travelled along the East West Rail line as part of its journey into a new strategic rail freight interchange in Northampton.

The service from Didcot came onto a new infrastructure at Oxford, travelling the 35 miles to Milton Keynes to connect with the West Coast Main Line.

It marked the first time East West Rail infrastructure has been used for commercial freight, after many months of signaller training and train driver learning since the £1.2 billion railway was completed in October 2024.

The journey also saw the entry into service of Maritime Transport’s Northampton Gateway terminal. The modern junction design allows freight trains to enter and exit the site at speeds of up to 40mph, which is eight times faster than conventional freight connections.

Gary Walsh, director for Network Rail’s West Coast South route, said: “Running the first commercial freight train into Northampton Gateway using East West Rail infrastructure is a big step forward. The new rail link has been designed to let trains move in and out at speeds of up to 40mph, which is much faster than usual for freight terminals.

"This means less disruption to passenger services and a smoother, more efficient railway overall. It’s a great example of how smart infrastructure can support greener transport and decrease the number of heavy goods vehicles on our roads.”

John Bailey, managing director – Intermodal, Maritime Transport, added: "The arrival of our first service via EWR is an important step in expanding UK rail freight capacity, providing businesses with a direct, low-carbon route from Southampton to the heart of the UK’s golden logistics triangle. This development demonstrates how infrastructure and private-sector investment can deliver a more efficient and sustainable supply chain, while easing pressure on a congested road network."

The twin milestones are a significant moment for East West Rail, a programme designed to improve the connectivity between Oxford and Cambridge.

The first of three phases of East West Rail is a new £1.2 billion section of railway which will restore train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes for passengers and goods – also known as Connection Stage One.

Earlier this year the Department for Transport named Chiltern Railways as the operator for passenger services which will run on the route in future.

Now more frequent trains are running on the East West Rail route, Network Rail is reminding local people to stay safe in and around the railway.

Its safety rules are: Never walk on or cross the tracks, don’t interact with any railway infrastructure, including overhead lines and power supplies and use level crossings correctly and respect safety barriers where applicable.