News of further development work at Doncaster’s iPort Rail has been welcomed as good news for the economy of South Yorkshire. Construction company Winvic claimed it would work to see rail freight capacity enhanced within the modern logistics hub. With some major rail freight operators and customers already co-located, the improvement programme is expected to encourage greater use of the busy rail freight terminal.
Winvic has commenced a multimillion-pound upgrade to the iPort Rail inland port, just outside Doncaster. Works are due to be handed over to their client for the project, the pan-European logistics real estate specialist Verdion, in autumn 2025. Rail freight traffic will continue uninterrupted during the fulfilment works.
Enhance rail freight handling capacity
iPort Rail sits within iPort, just east of Doncaster city centre. The terminal is widely regarded as the UK’s most advanced multimodal logistics hub. Capacity is, in everyday terms, huge. There are already six million square feet (almost 560,000 square metres) of logistics and industrial space on an 800-acre (325 hectares) site. Despite being on the edge of the site, the terminal remains central to the UK’s rail network as it is located just off the East Coast Main Line, almost midway between London and Edinburgh.
The specialists in logistics infrastructure, Winvic Construction has broken ground on the upgrade works at iPort Rail, which will enhance radically the rail freight handling capacity. The multimillion pound project will double its current size and storage capacity and increase number of trains that the terminal can accommodate each day. The works have been commissioned following agreement with iPort operators Medlog, a subsidiary of the global shipping operator MSC, which took over operations of the terminal earlier this year.
A strong platform for future growth
Technically, the apparently mundane issue of the concrete pad has been the subject of intense development work, to help increase handling capacity (and bigger stacks) of shipping containers. All the better, says Rob Cook, Winvic’s Director of Civils and Infrastructure, for stacking containers five-high, right next to trains. It’s all about efficiency of movement in the logistics chain, as any operator will readily explain. “We’re delighted that our credentials in constructing Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges and our expertise in pouring robust, reinforced concrete slabs has resulted in Verdion putting their trust in us to complete these works”, he said. “We look forward to working closely with the team over the next few months as we deliver the scheme safely and swiftly.”
Heavy loads, moved quickly, is the motto that rail freight may well operate under. That potential is already recognised by John Clements, Executive Director of Verdion. “There is significant untapped potential here at iPort to increase rail freight provision and support national and international supply chains”, he said. “Our agreement with Medlog creates a strong platform for future growth and we are pleased to be making good progress with the appointment of Winvic and [their] start on site.”
No new tracks but good track record
The extension works will also comprise the installation of drainage and services, the construction of a new welfare unit, gatehouse and landscaping. No new track formation is included in the project. The existing formation at iPort Rail has spare capacity built in, which will exploit the enhanced facilities.
All activity has been planned to minimise disruption to the facility’s existing customers, which includes businesses based at iPort as well as others across the region. Winvic has many projects under its belt already, including the highly-acclaimed SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway, and is currently delivering the SRFI and logistics park at Northampton, also on behalf of SEGRO.