The UK government has expressed its backing for the redevelopment of the Old Trafford precinct around the Manchester United stadium. There are implications for rail freight operations locally and spread further across the whole northwest of England. A new development, around a completely rebuilt football stadium, would require the adjacent rail freight terminals to be relocated.
Freightliner would be affected most by the redevelopment of Old Trafford. However, the freight operator has signalled its amenability to a move. An adjacent terminal, shared by DB Cargo UK and Maritime Transport, is also included in the proposals shown to the public last week. The other two operators have yet to comment. But Freightliner has expressed an interest in a new development under consideration at Newton-le-Willows, about 25 miles (40km) to the west.
Drive regeneration and growth
A statement from the UK government has put in motion a set of plans that, until now, were unconnected. Last week, the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, made a lengthy economic statement. She signalled support for a list of infrastructure projects. “We are supporting key investment opportunities across the UK,” said Reeves, listing projects in Glasgow, West Yorkshire, West Midlands and Greater Manchester.
The Greater Manchester Mayor is in favour of the development. His interest is not least because it would take freight movements away from the city centre. “The government is backing Andy Burnham’s plans for the redevelopment of Old Trafford,” said Reeves. “[This] promises to create new housing and commercial development around a new stadium, to drive regeneration and growth in the area.”
Trackside becomes pitchside
With tacit government approval, plans have moved ahead rapidly. The project has been priced at £4.2bn (€4.9bn), with additional backing from the local authority, Greater Manchester Council. The overlord of the London 2012 Olympics, Sebastian Coe, says it would have an even greater legacy than the games brought to Stratford. A 100,000-seat stadium, the biggest in Britain, would be the centrepiece, at the expense of displacing existing intermodal rail freight terminals.
The lesser terminal, shared by DB Cargo and Maritime Transport, may well be redeveloped as a passenger station. The larger of the two, operated by Freightliner, would end up under the pitch at a new Old Trafford. Funding would be allocated for the terminal moves – which could benefit a new project, Intermodal Logistics Park North. ILP North has provision for a purpose-built intermodal rail freight terminal.
Castlefield Corridor a potential winner
Ostensibly a separate project, ILP North, has been proposed by developers Tritax. That was given planning clearance by the UK government last week (as previously reported). ILP North was named by Freightliner as their proposed relocation. Speaking to local media, the operator said it was committed to assessing the feasibility of relocating their Manchester terminal to ILP North.
Potentially, moving 25 miles west, to a junction of the West Coast Main Line and the Liverpool – Manchester route, would provide a much better operational location than the repurposed yard at Old Trafford. It may also help relieve the notoriously congested “Castlefield Corridor” – a bottleneck route through central Manchester. The football club has said it will state its preferred options by the summer.