Did You Know?
Rail carries over 100 million tonnes of freight per year
The rail freight market has grown 60% since 1995
Road freight generates six times more carbon dioxide for each tonne moved than by rail
The British Government targets a growth rate for rail freight of 80% over the next 10 years
Freight Connections
The key to developing freight services is access to rail network. The Network Rail Guide to Freight Connections gives you detailed information on how to connect to the network.
For enquiries about specific locations, and assistance in setting up a connection and the associated contracts, please contact the Senior Route Freight Managers.
Take a look at the Guide to Freight Connections. If you can think of any improvements that we could make to this guide, please let us know by sending an email to ian.cleland@networkrail.co.uk
View an example freight connection – a typical layout of a new siding link to the rail network, showing your facility, land boundary, the Network Rail connecting network and your connection point.
Getting Connected
Network Rail has produced a detailed guide to the process of getting connected to the rail network. This includes developing new freight sidings or ther freight facilities, or getting those that are not in use reconnected to the network.
You will find this information helpful if your development involves:
- Making a new connection to our network from a private siding or other rail facility
- Repairing or replacing a disused connection
- Altering the design of an existing connection
- Leasing or buying land from us for rail use
The process described here applies only to rail links to our network. The land your sidings facilities are on will be owned or leased by you, or may be Network Rail land leased to you. For details of connections to rail networks that do not belong to us (including those on land we have leased to freight operating companies), please click here.