Work has started to upgrade the rail route between Doncaster and Immingham after investment of more than £15 million.
Network Rail is partnering with the Humber LEP and North Lincolnshire Council to invest the money to support the growth of rail freight in the region.
The project will allow high cube shipping containers to run between Doncaster and Immingham/Killinghome on standard height wagons.
The high cube containers can be accommodated on the Immingham to Doncaster routes, but it currently requires special low wagons of which there is a limited supply and they are also more expensive to run and maintain.
The project involves 29 “interventions” including platform alterations at stations and trackside changes, while work is also needed on three road bridges – Armthorpe Lane, East Halton Road and Eastfield Road.
Work will also be carried out underneath the bridge which carries the railway over the A18 (Near Althorpe Station, Scunthorpe).
To create the space needed on the railway, the bridges at Armthorpe Lane, East Halton and Eastfield Road need to be replaced, which will mean some road closures with diversions in place for traffic.
Pedestrian access will be maintained through a temporary bridge.
Route Managing Director for Network Rail Rob McIntosh said: “Rail freight is vital to our economy. It contributes £870m to the economy and plays a big role in reducing congestion and carbon emissions.
“The northern Lincolnshire ports are an essential part of the freight network and this improved route will allow onward distribution from Doncaster to Scotland, the Midlands and beyond.
“This in turn will support the growth of local businesses at the ports and in the distribution network as well as preventing the need for goods to be transported on the road network.”
This project has an in-principle allocation (subject to final Business case approval) of £7.2m from the Humber LEP’s Local Growth Fund programme which has been secured through its Growth Deals with Government and is part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse.
SUBSCRIBE to Business Week, the new email newsletter from The Lincolnite and Lincolnshire Reporter, bringing you weekly features, analysis and a news roundup of the top stories by Stonebow Media. Sign up free to receive it every Thursday morning in your inbox. We won’t spam you or share your details with third parties, we promise!
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Drivers in Lincoln will face nearly a fortnight of disruption when electrical works cause a road closure on Skellingthorpe Road from next week (July 11).
Western Power Distribution will install a new electricity connection for a new primary school on Skellingthorpe Road.
The county council has been constructing a new 130-place school on the site of the former Priory Witham Academy Junior School, which will be for St Christopher’s primary-aged pupils.
As a result, Skellingthorpe Road will be closed between Tritton Road and Boultham Park Road between July 11 and July 22.
This is to ensure the safety of engineers and local people while work is taking place.
A diversion will be put in place via Tritton Road, Doddington Road and Newark Road.
Western Power Distribution said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused while we complete this essential new connection.”
We are investigating a road traffic collision which happened just after 5pm today.
The crash happened on the A15 just south of Waddington and involved a black Peugeot 208 that collided with a tree. The driver of the car, a 56-year-old male, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The A15 was closed just before 6pm and is likely to remain closed for some time.
We are particularly keen to hear from those who were driving along the A15 this afternoon between 4pm and 5:10pm and may have captured dashcam footage of the road during the collision.
If you have dashcam footage or any other information that will assist in our enquiries, there are a number of ways you can get in touch.
By calling 101 quoting incident 285 of 4 July.
By emailing [email protected] quoting incident 285 of 4 July in the subject line.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report via the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.