The UK’s leading provider of integrated road and rail freight logistics, Maritime Transport opens its SRFI – Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at the SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton – SLPN. An opening ceremony, which was held at the SRFI on Friday, 27th February 2026, welcomed the rail minister Lord Hendy from Richmond Hill, CBE, in addition to representatives from local authorities, SEGRO, and the government as well as other wider logistics sectors in order to recognize the delivery of one of the most important new rail-connected logistics hubs of the UK.
The ninth rail freight terminal of Maritime goes on to offer direct northbound as well as southbound connections to the West Coast Main Line through the Northampton loop. Delivered by way of an £80m+ investment into rail by SEGRO and also designed as a modern and open-access facility, as this 17-acre Maritime Transport opens its SRFI, it can go ahead and have in it the longest and heaviest freight trains of the UK with almost 16 services every day, having container storage capacity that goes beyond 2,500 TEU.
It is well to be noted that the SRFI was integrated into the national rail network last year in 2025 and was followed later in the same year by the commencement of a five-day-a-week intermodal service that connected Northampton with DP World Southampton. Apparently, the service was the first to function at full length in the reinstated Oxford–Bletchley section pertaining to the East West Rail, hence going ahead and establishing a new east–west corridor throughout central England. More rail services are planned as part of the phased expansion programme at Northampton, hence offering more inland connections to the major deep-sea ports of the UK as well as other UK freight interchanges.
Located at the centre of the logistics ‘golden triangle’ of the UK, SLPN sits right adjacent to Junction 15 of the M1 and offers direct access to the national motorway network with an ability to reach almost 90% of the UK population in just around 4 hours of drive time. The development takes into account more than 600 acres and will at the end of the day deliver almost five million sq ft of logistics accommodation and will have rail connectivity embedded as the core element of the design of the site.
Apparently, the opening event brought together senior figures coming from the logistics community, which included ports, freight forwarders, shipping lines,
retailers as well as supply chain partners, along with the representatives from local authorities as well as central government.
Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE, the minister of state for rail, along with Huw Merriman of the Rail Freight Group as well as the former transport minister, Paul Dunne, in addition to the managing director, operations, digital, and customer at SEGRO plc, and maritime group executive chairman John Williams, got included as the speakers.
Apart from rail investment, the event also underscored the growing zero-emission road capability of Maritime. Four eHGVs were put on display, rolled out via Maritime ZERO, which is the zero-emission road transport division of the company.
Maritime, which happens to be a lead partner in the government-backed Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator – ZEHID programme, is rolling out over 50 eHGVs across the country while developing one of the largest privately operated charging networks in the UK when it comes to heavy goods vehicles. Being a part of this programme, Northampton is going to host high-powered charging infrastructure along with eHGV operations under the eFREIGHT 2030 project, hence enabling zero-emission road movements that need to be integrated directly with the rail services, hence positioning the site as a major rail-served hub pertaining to low-carbon logistics and showcasing how rail and road decarbonization can get delivered throughout the commercial freight operations.
According to Executive Chairman, Maritime Transport, John Williams, “This year, as Maritime marks 25 years in business, the official opening of our Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton represents another significant milestone in our journey from a small container hauler to a fully integrated road and rail freight logistics partner. Moving freight from road to rail remains one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions across the supply chain. Since 2019, we have invested more than £100 million in developing our rail terminal network. Further investment was planned to increase national capacity, strengthen connectivity between the UK’s major ports and inland markets, and expand the rail capability available to our customers. We are committed to creating the cleanest, most sustainable full-load supply chain in the country, utilizing rail for long-distance journeys and eHGVs for first and final miles, and Northampton Gateway Rail Freight Terminal is an important step in delivering that ambition.”
The rail minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said that “our rail freight industry is hugely important to keeping goods moving across the country. We’re committed to growing it because of its benefits for both the economy and environment, and our Railways Bill includes both a growth target and a duty on Great British Railways to promote rail freight. It was brilliant to be at the opening of the new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Northampton, which is a big vote of confidence in the rail freight industry, and I’d like to thank SEGRO and Maritime Transport for delivering this great new facility.”
Huw Merriman, who happens to be the Rail Freight Group and former transport minister, said, “Congratulations to John Williams and the teams at Maritime Transport and SEGRO for investing in and delivering this phenomenal new rail-connected logistics hub. The jobs, trade, and growth that Maritime and SEGRO have delivered for UK Plc are in the finest traditions of the private sector and what it can do for our economy if encouraged and given the foundations to thrive. This new rail hub is a boost for all who strive to grow rail freight and is a testament to Maritime and SEGRO’s commitment to move more freight on the UK’s railway and decarbonize the logistics sector. It was a pleasure to watch the project develop during my time in government and to join for the opening on behalf of the Rail Freight Group.’
As per Paul Dunne, who happens to be the Managing Director, Operations, Digital, and Customer at SEGRO plc, “Strategic rail freight interchanges are complex, capital-intensive infrastructure projects that only happen where we have the right location, policy environment, and long-term commitment from developers, operators, and government. At SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, we have invested over £80m to build the freight terminal and rail connections to the West Coast Main Line, helping strengthen the UK’s rail freight network while supporting international trade and national supply chain resilience.”
Gary Walsh, the Route Director West Coast South, with Network Rail opined that, “The successful delivery of the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at Northampton is testament to collaboration across the industry and demonstrates how we can unlock new opportunities for sustainable transport. Working closely with our partners, we’re delighted to play our part in moving freight from road to rail, supporting Network Rail’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions and help build a greener future for Britain’s supply chains.”
