Freightliner, the UK’s largest intermodal rail freight operator, has launched a commercial initiative to lease development land at key terminals, including port-connected sites at Southampton and Liverpool. The offer is aimed at encouraging logistics operators and industry partners to invest in rail-based operations as part of broader efforts to promote modal shift.
Available sites include the active intermodal hubs at the Port of Southampton and Port of Liverpool, both of which are strategically located for port-centric logistics. Other locations across the UK also feature in the opportunity, including Doncaster, Bristol, and a road-served facility at Cannock.
Port logistics in focus at Southampton and Liverpool
Freightliner is highlighting the role of its port-connected terminals in enabling more efficient cargo flows between maritime gateways and inland markets. “Subject to reconfiguration of our intermodal terminals, we can make land available to lease to rail freight customers whilst investing further in increased intermodal capacity,” the company said in a statement.
The Southampton site, one of the UK’s busiest intermodal terminals, offers direct connectivity to the container port, supporting deep-sea traffic and hinterland rail services. Liverpool, with its established rail corridor to the Midlands and beyond, similarly serves as a critical node for short-sea and feeder services in the Irish Sea and North Atlantic trades.
Sites positioned to support modal shift and new entrants
Freightliner says its goal is to partner with businesses whose operations align with decarbonisation and modal shift objectives. “We are looking for businesses where the use of this land will help encourage and promote modal shift,” the company said.
The operator’s in-house Solution Design team is positioned to help prospective customers, particularly those new to rail, develop viable operating models. “We can help new to rail customers as well as support any individual needs – from designing the best solution through to managing the successful implementation and ensuring smooth deployment,” the statement added.
Additional UK locations offer urban and inland options
While Southampton and Liverpool are likely to draw the most interest from the maritime logistics community, other sites also feature in the development portfolio. Doncaster, a key inland node, and Bristol, which serves a mix of intermodal and bulk flows, both offer proven terminal infrastructure with scope for expansion.
Bristol’s seven-acre site at South Liberty Lane is already active in aggregates and tank container traffic and benefits from reconnected track and signalling reinstated after the original line closure in the 1990s. The facility’s location near Temple Meads station makes it well-suited for regional distribution.
Road-access site at Cannock completes portfolio
Freightliner is also offering a non-rail-connected site at Cannock, in the West Midlands. Although not currently served by rail, it remains a potential logistics hub with strong road links and scope for future rail integration. The site is well placed in the UK’s “logistics golden triangle”.
Freightliner has not published lease rates. However, comparable logistics developments in the UK typically start around GB£50,000 per acre annually. The company is inviting direct enquiries from interested operators seeking to establish or expand their rail freight footprint.
