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Government green-lights essential road scheme upgrades


The government is promising faster journey times for drivers across Wiltshire, Leeds, Essex and Buckinghamshire after it green lit four essential road scheme upgrades.

The A350 Chippenham bypass, the A647 Dawsons Corner and Stanningley bypass in Leeds, the South East Aylesbury link road and the A127/A130 Fairglen interchange in Essex have all been confirmed for upgrades.

The A350 Chippenham bypass is considered one of the most critical routes connecting the South West with the Midlands and South East. The Department for Transport said the £90m funding programme would see journey times reduced by up to a quarter, with two sections of the road to be dualled and improvements made to the roundabout.  

Michelle Gardner, Deputy Director of Policy at Logistics UK, said: “Congestion makes journey planning highly unpredictable which increases business costs through factors such as missed deliveries, unnecessary overtime, increased fuel consumption and inefficient fleet utilisation.

“The schemes given the go-ahead today show how even smaller-scale strategic upgrades can have a dramatic impact across the whole network.

“Upgrading the national infrastructure in this way makes supply chains more resilient and enables logistics providers to ensure that the right goods are in the right place at the right time – whether that is a factory, office, hospital or doorstep.”

Lilian Greenwood, Future of Roads Minister, said: “The UK’s roads are the backbone of a growing economy, which is why we’re giving these vital schemes the go ahead, helping deliver our plan for change.

“Economic growth has been stunted for too long, so we’re giving the green light and investing in vital schemes to help people get from A to B more easily however they choose to travel.”

Published On: 13/02/2025 15:00:00

 

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News In Brief

PD Ports' Trans Pennine rail freight service up and running

The new service between Teesport and Manchester’s Trafford Park has successfully completed its first run.  

It is hoped that up to 40 heavy vehicle movements could be eliminated from the congested Trans Pennine road network for each one-way run, to assist customers from both the North East and the North West in lowering carbon emissions and minimising delays.  

The trial five-day-a-week return service is part of a partnership between Direct Rail Services (DRS) and PD Ports, which operates a specialised rail freight terminal from the heart of Tees Dock.  

For the first time, the service will transport new high-cube containers directly from Teesport and the wider North East to the Manchester Trafford Park rail freight terminal, increasing capacity and improving supply chain efficiency. Additionally, the service is now using ultra-low IDA wagons, allowing clients to transport high-cube containers (9’6″ in height, compared to the standard 8’6″) on non-gauge upgraded and height-restricted routes across the Pennines.  

Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Advisor, Ellis Shelton, said: "This new service is set to relieve pressure on the trans-Pennine road network, which is a win both for the environment and for customers across the North East and North West.  

"The innovative five-day-a-week return service will not only boost supply chain resilience but also demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices. This initiative is a significant stride towards modernising rail freight operations as well as providing economic, social and environmental benefits." 

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