Freightliner has announced that it is planning to build a new locomotive and wagon maintenance facility at its Ipswich freight yard.
The multi-million-pound investment will help boost the local economy. The new facility will create around 20 skilled/semi-skilled jobs for local people with local suppliers used for the procurement of materials and equipment.
Freightliner evaluated various sites around the UK, with Ipswich being chosen due to its strategic positioning close to the Port of Felixstowe, the UK's largest maritime port. Freightliner operates 22 trains a day from here.
The rail operators existing Ipswich site is already connected to the rail network and has sufficient unused space.
The new maintenance facility will be a steel-framed building, 54 metres in length and include an inspection pit, two overhead cranes and an extended on-site car park for staff. It will also house a wheel lathe used to maintain and re-profile wagon and locomotive wheelsets.
What did the officials say?
Tim Shakerley, Engineering & Operations Services Director for G&W's UK/Europe Region companies, said:
“There is a growing demand from the government to move more goods by rail. Each freight train takes up to 76 lorry journeys off our congested road network and is a far safer means of transport. We take any impact we have on our neighbours and the environment very seriously and have written to local residents to give them full details of our plans and invited them to contact our project team with any questions.”
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Which is why Freightliner could create new jobs at Ipswich Freight Yard. Once it’s built and completed to maintain their freight locomotives. Such as Class 66s, Class 68s and Class 70s.
And Class 90s.