UK ports bring intermodal growth

International intermodal traffic is already the biggest single commodity carried by British rail freight. Now it could also be the fastest growing sector. A list of recent new flows, and intermodal growth targets, point to many more boxes on the rails in future.

Intermodal freight lifted from British ports stood at just over 1.6 million net tonne kilometres at the last count (December 2024). Since then, it’s been steadily increasing, and next month’s figures should show a further increase in that primary metric. Only established aggregate flows, from British quarries, match that figure for weight. However, it’s the volume of boxes that has the most potential to surge ahead.

Prominent freight constraint

Freight capacity remains a continuing issue for British rail operations. In contrast to European concerns, reported by RialFreight.com, boxes in Britain continue to move by rail – in as much as the network will allow. Several well-reported pinch points exist on the network, many of which constrain freight development. The West Coast Main Line in its entirety is often cited, along with the Castlefield Corridor in central Manchester. However, Ely, in the east of England, is the most prominent freight…