In the early hours of Tuesday, 8th September 2026, the same day the Government announced its 2040 rail freight strategy plan, Sizewell C welcomed its first commercial freight train following the completion of its Green Rail Route known as the Kenton Spur.

The train, weighing over 1,000 tonnes, was hauled by a Class 66 diesel and had originated from Tunstead Quarry in Derbyshire.

It was carrying materials to the Temporary Construction Area, which is part of the building zone of the new nuclear power station in Suffolk.

For the time being, trains accessing the Kenton Spur are requested to make a short stop at Saxmundham to obtain permission to access the spur.

Once upgrades to the East Suffolk line are completed, a programme supported by Sizewell C, the trains will be able to run directly onto the spur without stopping.

There has not been a regular, constant traffic flow along the Kenton spur for many years. The last passenger trains ran in 1966, and since then the line has been used for freight-only operations.

Supported by Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council and Network Rail, the relaying and upgrading of the 1.7-mile Green Rail Route, undertaken by Balfour Beatty, enables Sizewell C to meet its construction material delivery target by having 60% of its materials arrive by rail or sea.

This move is expected to save 5,000 HGVs from passing through Suffolk to reach the building site on the coast.

In the coming months through to the end of the year, trains will transport over 100,000 tons of material to the site. The number of trains will also increase as the building phases develop. Four trains per day will use the spur at the peak of construction.

“The arrival of our first commercial freight train is a major milestone for Sizewell C and a significant step forward in how we build the project. The Green Rail Route is the result of years of planning, engineering, and collaboration with key partners.

“By delivering 60% of our materials by rail and sea, we’re significantly reducing the burden on local roads and local communities here in Suffolk. We want to deliver this project differently, minimising impacts and maximising the benefits for local communities – our rail plans are a big part of how we can achieve that.” 

Damian Leydon, Site Delivery Director of Sizewell C,

“The arrival of the first commercial materials train into the TCA Railhead via the Green Rail Route is a landmark moment for the Sizewell C project and a proud achievement for everyone involved in its delivery.

“Building a brand new railway is a rare undertaking in the UK, and this milestone reflects years of planning, engineering and delivery excellence.”

Tom Emanuel, Project Lead for the Sizewell C Rail Scheme at Balfour Beatty,

“These essential mitigations have been made possible thanks to the constructive, collaborative approach between Sizewell C and East Suffolk Council. Bringing in materials by rail will significantly reduce the number of lorries on the roads, and their associated carbon footprint.”

Cllr Tom Daly, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Energy and Climate Change,