Freight sidings in Buxton, a city in Peak District will be extended to allow longer freight trains to operate across the UK railway network. Buxton is known for its quarries, from where construction materials are transported to various destinations across Britain.

As part of the Great North Rail Project, Network Rail is investing 18 million British pounds (20.2 million Euros) in the project. The track will be extended by 430 metres, allowing freight trains to increase their number of wagons from 18 to 26. This will help provide an economic boost for local quarries and future national construction projects, as up to 2,500 tonnes of materials could be transported by each train, said Network Rail.

Importance

James Dean, chief operating officer at Network Rail said: “Freight trains play an important role in the operations of UK PLC (the UK commercial community). This is why as part of the Great North Rail Project, we are delighted to announce an 18 million investment to lengthen a well-used sidings, so that longer freight trains can load at Buxton in the future.

“This project is also good news for the environment, as it will help remove more lorries from our roads across the region and beyond, removing congestion and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the air”, he added.

No impact

The 430-metre railway extension runs through a former council-run waste facility which will be made safe and landscaped. Network Rail will install 1,822 metre of new drainage to make the sidings able to cope with heavy rainfall. The existing public footbridge will also be extended and better lighting will be fitted to limit the impact of light on nearby residents.

The Buxton sidings project started in March 2018 and will be completed in April 2019. There is no disruption to railway services while the upgrade is completed. The scheme is one of a number of investments across the network to make it possible for longer freight trains to operate between the Peak District and the south of England.