THE need for a railfreight terminal somewhere to the north of London has deepened since the earlier inquiry and is now overwhelming, a rail expert has told the hearing.
Giving evidence for Helioslough, transport consultant Nick Gallup said the Government wanted 50 per cent more goods carrried by train – an increase impossible without terminals such as the company's project.
He said Tesco, Britain's largest retailer, wanted a sharp increase the number of trains it ran within Britain, while DB Schencker, Europe's largest rail freight company, was interested in running Helioslough's project once built.
He said the German-based rail company had said a railfreight depot on the Park Street site would be suitable for handling goods delivered by sea to Southampton or Felixstowe.
He said: “There is a combination of Britain's largest retailer wanting it for the domestic market, and Europe's largest rail freight operator wanting it for deep sea traffic."
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