Doncaster iPort explained

53.4794°N -1.1048°W

Doncaster iPort should not be confused with Doncaster International Railport.

Doncaster iPort or Doncaster Inland Port is an intermodal rail terminal; a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, under construction in Rossington, Doncaster at junction 3 of the M18 motorway in England. It is to be connected to the rail network via the line of the former South Yorkshire Joint Railway, and from an extension of the former Rossington Colliery branch from the East Coast Main Line.

The development includes a 171ha intermodal rail terminal to be built on green belt land, of which over was to be developed into warehousing, making it the largest rail terminal in Yorkshire; the development also included over of countryside, the majority of which was to remain in agricultural use, with other parts used for landscaping, and habitat creation as part of environment mitigation measures.

History

In 2006 developer HelioSlough began a public consultation around their proposals to create a rail freight depot west of Rossington.[1]

In 2007 the Rossington Eco Town Partnership, an association of Rossington Forward, Rossington Development Trust, and local landowners and property developers UK Coal, Persimmon Homes, Helios Properties and Rossington Hall Limited presented plans to build a large 898abbr=onNaNabbr=on 'eco town' development over a 20-year timespan of ten to fifteen thousand homes on land to the south and west of Rossington. The plan included redevelopment of the Rossington Colliery site, and included as part of the employment proposals the plan from Helios Properties for an Inland port. The development, which would have used significant amounts of agricultural land was opposed by a large majority of local residents.[2] [3] The project was shortlisted as one of 15 potential sites in the UK for a new town development in 2008,[4] by 2009 the scope of the plan had been reduced to a five thousand home 'eco-village'.[5]

In 2009 developer HelioSlough submitted a planning application for a $516 million rail terminal with 6000000square feet of warehousing; the plan represented the largest rail logistics development in Yorkshire, and was to be operated and part funded by Hutchinson Ports.[6] The application, which included development on green belt land was approved by City of Doncaster Council but opposed by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, and four parish councils. In January 2010 local MPs Caroline Flint (Don Valley) and Jeffrey Ennis (Barnsley East and Mexborough) voiced their support for the plan.[7] In March 2010 the UK government decided that no public enquiry would be needed for the project.[8]

In June 2011 developers Helios Europe, Shepherd Aligned and Segro entered into a joint agreement to develop the site, which would be road connected via the £18 million Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS) road scheme, and be built for international trade, with customs clearance.[9] In September 2011 planning consent was given for the rail port;[10] construction of the facility was initially planned to begin in 2012.[11] [12]

The tendering process for a rail operator of the port was begun in 2012: DB Schenker Rail UK, Associated British Ports, Stobart Group and Freightliner were listed as potential operators.[13] Hutchinson Whampoa had also been reported as a potential rail operator in 2011.[14]

In 2013 the successor company to Helios Europe, Verdion obtained financial backing for its projects through Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP).[15] HOOPP planned to invest €1 billion in European logistics facilities through Verdion including the £400 million "iPort Doncaster" development.[16] Work on the FARRRS connecting road began in late 2013.[17]

Site development plan

The railport lies directly adjacent to and south, west, and east of the M18 motorway, Rossington Colliery and spoil heaps, and former South Yorkshire Joint Railway respectively.[18] Historically the land was entirely agricultural, known as Little Moor, and part of Potteric Carr; Potteric Carr farm was located in the northwestern portion of the site. The land is low lying, about 5m above sea level, and was drained by man made cuts.[19] Potteric Carr Nature Reserve is to the north of the site.

The entire site covers 397.4ha, of which 171ha is used for the development, 68.3ha is access land, and 158.1ha is countryside. Construction of the first phase was estimated to take 2 years including roads and rail access, 200000m2 of warehousing and rail terminal; with further warehousing constructed at a development rate of approximately 70000m2 per year; the entire project was estimated to be complete in 8 years.

The rail terminal is planned to connect to the rail network via both the single track freight only (since 1929) former South Yorkshire Joint Railway (SYJR) (northward and southward connections), and from an extension of the former Rossington Colliery branch off the East Coast Main Line. The terminal is to be built to handle containerised (ISO Container, Swap body), and wagon-load trains, with a capacity of 20 trains per day.

The connection from the SYJR would be the primary route to the facility, which would have 4 reception sidings and 5 handling sidings, as well as all distribution warehouses rail connected, with addition lines for damaged wagons, and locomotive storage. Gauging enhancements to loading gauge W10 are planned for connecting lines, with construction design allowing overhead electrification at a later date. The track plan allows train lengths of up to, with siding lengths between 589and; trains over would be handled by an on site shunter.

In addition to the rail terminal, track work, and road access further civil engineering works was required as part of the plan, mainly environmental mitigation, including diversion of St. Catherine's Well Stream, landscaping, flood mitigation and drainage, footpaths, cyclepaths and bridleways. Developer estimates of job creation were over 4,000 jobs net created on site as a direct result when fully operational.[20]

Construction and development

Verdion began the construction of a c. 200000square feet and a 120000square feet warehousing unit in May 2015;[21] erection of the warehousing's frames began in November 2015.[22] [23]

In April 2016 Fellowes acquired a 144373square feet warehouse space, also to function as the company's new UK headquarters.[24] [25]

After some testing in late 2017, the site officially opened to railway traffic in February 2018,[26] however, regular freight trains did not start until 12 September 2018 when Princess Anne officially unveiled the new terminal. A week later, container trains from Southampton were arriving at the site at a rate of one per day site.[27] [28] From April 2019, the iPort is also served by two trains daily from Teesport.[29] The terminal is also now served by two trains daily to and from the Port of Felixstowe. All of these trains are operated by GB Railfreight.

References

Sources

Further information

External links

Official
Defunct official

Notes and References

  1. News: Rail freight depot could create 'thousands of jobs'. Doncaster Free Press. 30 October 2006. 2 November 2013.
  2. News: Eco-town on your doorstep?. 4 December 2007. Doncaster Free Press. 2 November 2013.
  3. News: Bid for a huge new Eco-town unveiled. 7 December 2007. Doncaster Free Press. 2 November 2013.
  4. News: Cheers and fears greet eco-town plan. 9 May 2008. Doncaster Free Press. 2 November 2013.
  5. News: Minister backs housing boost. 12 June 2009. Sheffield Telegraph. 2 November 2013.
  6. News: Plans lodged for UK's first inland port. 9 February 2009. Cargo News Asia. Marshall Cavendish Business Information. dead. https://archive.today/20120723124230/http://www.cargonewsasia.com/secured/article.aspx?id=7&article=18366. 23 July 2012 . 19 July 2012.
  7. Sources:
  8. News: No public inquiry for Rossington inland port plan. 16 March 2010. BBC News . BBC. 5 February 2012.
  9. Web site: Big Port site in Yorkshire. 13 June 2011. www.logisticsmanager.com. 5 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140717121613/http://www.logisticsmanager.com/Articles/16307/Big+Port+site+in+Yorkshire.html. 17 July 2014. dead.
  10. Web site: Green light for Inland Port in Doncaster. 9 September 2011. Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131102164045/http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/db/enews/article.asp?Archive=&CatID=31&Art=4569. 2 November 2013 . 5 February 2012.
  11. News: 2012 hopes for inland port plan. https://archive.today/20120729103628/http://www.epworthbells.co.uk/news/business/2012_hopes_for_inland_port_plan_1_3762332. dead. 29 July 2012. 11 September 2011. Epworth Bells & Crowle Advertiser. 5 February 2012.
  12. News: Massive logistics hub scheme should start in 2012. 7 June 2011. The Star. 5 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131104213758/http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/business/massive_logistics_hub_scheme_should_start_in_2012_1_3454037. 4 November 2013. dead.
  13. Web site: DB Schenker coming up with the goods at Rossington?. 30 July 2012. www.multimodal.org.uk. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103064117/http://www.multimodal.org.uk/htm/n20120730.161126.htm. 3 November 2013 . 5 February 2012.
  14. News: Inland port for Doncaster. Daniel . Thomas. 5 June 2011. Financial Times. 5 February 2012.
  15. News: Global investment organisation backs Doncaster. Doncaster Free Press. 8 October 2013. 1 November 2013.
  16. Web site: HOOPP invests more in Europe. 11 October 2013. www.benefitscanada.com. 1 November 2013.
  17. News: Doncaster's £56m road scheme. ITV. 14 October 2013. 1 November 2013.
  18. Web site: Planning Application – Inland Port, Doncaster. HelioSlough. 5 February 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120205000451/http://www.helioslough.com/inlandport/planning/index.html. 5 February 2012 .
  19. Ordnance Survey, 1:10560 and 10000 maps, 1854–1992
  20. Web site: PLANNING POLICY REPORT IN SUPPORT OF OUTLINE PLANNING APPLICATION In respect of Inland Port Doncaster . "Employment Benefits", pp. 24–25 . January 2009 . HelioSlough . CgMs Ltd. . none.,alt link via Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
  21. Web site: Verdion's Doncaster iPort site set to house two major multi-use units . Nick. Hill. 15 May 2015. bdaily.co.uk. 17 May 2015.
  22. Web site: Steel frame erected at Verdion's £400m iPort development in Doncaster. Nick. Hill. 24 November 2015. bdaily.co.uk. 13 February 2016 .
  23. News: Doncaster Airport link road - start of £400m rail freight interchange. 25 November 2015. The Star. 13 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160425124458/http://www.thestar.co.uk/business/doncaster-airport-link-road-start-of-400m-rail-freight-interchange-1-7589092. 25 April 2016. dead.
  24. News: Fellowes is first in at £500m iPort . 14 April 2016. The Star. 30 April 2016.
  25. Web site: Fellowes signs as first occupier of £500m iPort scheme . 14 April 2016 . Kirsty. Adams. www.shdlogistics.com . 30 April 2016.
  26. Pritchard . Robert . iPort Rail opens in Doncaster . Today's Railways UK. April 2018 . 196 . 19 . Platform 5 . Sheffield . 1475-9713.
  27. Pritchard . Robert . iPort Rail terminal opens. Today's Railways UK. November 2018 . 203 . 18 . Platform 5 . Sheffield . 1475-9713.
  28. Bickerdyke . Paul . First train from iPort . . November 2018 . 270 . 12 . Mortons Media . Horncastle . 1362-234X.
  29. Pritchard . Robert . Additional iPort container traffic. Today's Railways UK. June 2019 . 210 . 12 . Platform 5 . Sheffield . 1475-9713.