Maritime Transport and DB Cargo UK have launched a new rail freight service connecting DP World Southampton to the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, using the newly reinstated East West Rail (EWR) line.
The service’s inaugural journey on 16 June marked a significant milestone as the first commercial operation to traverse the full length of the Oxford to Bletchley section of East West Rail since its restoration. The route re-establishes vital east–west rail connectivity across central England, forming part of a broader government-backed initiative to reopen the Oxford–Cambridge corridor.
East West Rail freight route
Previously disconnected for decades, the Oxford–Bletchley section of the East West Rail project is central to the UK’s efforts to increase east–west rail capacity and reduce pressure on traditionally congested north–south corridors.
By utilising the new infrastructure, the service introduces an alternative route for freight, improving resilience and flexibility within the national logistics network. It also opens up new opportunities for moving domestic and containerised cargo cross-country while supporting regional growth and sustainability.
New direct link to deep-sea ports
Operated by DB Cargo UK, the service runs five days a week and can carry up to 68 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) per train. The connection provides a direct inland rail link between the busy deep-sea port at Southampton and the new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton.
The service benefits from Network Rail’s Track Access Discount Scheme, which waives relevant charges for six months for newly established flows. This incentive aims to encourage modal shift from road to rail and support the development of new rail freight services.
„Having recently operated the first locomotive into SEGRO Northampton Gateway to ‘prove’ the infrastructure, DB Cargo UK is proud to once again be partnering with its long-standing and strategic customer on this significant inaugural flow into Northampton Gateway. Not only does this new flow facilitate additional capacity into this important region of the country, it will do so in a sustainable manner utilising new Network Rail infrastructure and funding, delivering benefits to Maritime Transport and their own customers alike,” said Roger Neary, Chief Sales Officer, DB Cargo UK.
Maritime’s 35-acre Northampton Gateway terminal is part of a GBP 200 million investment by SEGRO and connects directly to the West Coast Main Line via the Northampton Loop. A key innovation lies in the new rail junction’s design, which allows freight trains to switch between the mainline and interchange at speeds of up to 40mph—compared to a typical 5 mph—enhancing overall efficiency and reducing delays to other network users.
The site, formally integrated into the national rail network earlier this year, is situated near Junction 15 of the M1 and is envisioned as a cornerstone of the UK’s logistics infrastructure.
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