UK's Network Rail to build national road haulage distribution centre

THE UK's Network Rail is investing GBP25 million (US$40.1 million) in the development of a 27,870-square-metre national road haulage distribution centre on the site of the former Peugeot plant at Ryton in the West Midlands.

The hub for Network Rail's National Delivery Service (NDS) will have direct access to the A45 and the UK's highway network. It is expected to help reduce the cost of the railway by centralising previously leased properties in Lichfield, Worcester and Ludgershall. It will also cut Network Rail's carbon footprint by reducing road fleet mileage.

The centre will create 100 jobs when it opens in July 2013 on a site being acquired from Prologis, reports the UK's Transport Intelligence.

Martin Elwood, director of Network Rail NDS, said: "Network Rail's first preference is to transport goods by rail. This is not always the right solution so we have an extensive road fleet to transport goods and equipment to our work sites and depots. By bringing the logistics for this together at Ryton we can offer a more effective and efficient service for Network Rail. This will mean reduced costs and faster turnaround times when we do work on the railway."