Plans have progressed for a new Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) in the town of Newton-le-Willows, potentially replacing Trafford Park terminal in Manchester. The site, midway between Manchester and Liverpool, would replace an existing facility at Trafford Park in Manchester. It would also upgrade operational efficiency and capacity and, most notably, be adjacent to the West Coast Main Line, Europe’s busiest mixed-traffic railway.
It’s still a long way off, but Intermodal Logistics Park North Ltd has moved a step closer. Now represented as ILPN Ltd, a company formed under the developers Tritax Big Box REIT plc, has opened a second round of public consultation. If approved, the development would effectively move rail freight operations out of a central Manchester site, which has been earmarked for a massive expansion of the football club, Manchester United.
We shall be moved
Intermodal Logistics Park North Rail Freight Interchange, previously known as Parkside East, is envisaged as a key component in the UK’s rail freight network, serving both Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region Freeport. It would be less than 25 miles (40km) from each city centre. The new terminal would be in an advantageous position, adjacent to north-south and east-west motorways, and also with direct access to both the West Coast Main Line and the TransPennine corridor, providing dual north–south and east–west rail connectivity.
Industry sources have suggested that the ILPN site could replace the existing terminal at Trafford Park, operated by the UK rail freight operator Freightliner. The Trafford Park site faces both capacity challenges and uncertainty over the future of the land. Trafford Park is being considered for redevelopment as part of a proposed new Manchester United stadium project.
Collateral congestion relief
Parkside East, as the site was formerly known, would, at a stroke, radically reduce the pressure on key infrastructure in Manchester. It most likely would help relieve the chronic congestion in the notorious ‘Castlefield Corridor’, an intractable bottleneck through the city centre.
Earlier reports note that Freightliner had taken an interest in the project with a view to establishing new intermodal facilities there. Freightliner’s intermodal operation was recently sold to French shipping line CMA CGM, but has not overlooked its ambition to radically grow its operation. The Old Trafford base is operating at full capacity, handling around twenty trains a day. A move to the proposed ILPN could allow the company to significantly expand services. The site’s proximity to Liverpool’s growing container terminals and its location within the Liverpool Freeport zone make it an attractive option.
investment for the North West England
The project has be classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), meaning ultimate consent will lie with the Secretary of State for Transport. “These proposals include an allocated site and will be instrumental in connecting the North West to global markets,” said Andrew Dickman, Chairman at Tritax Big Box Developments. “As part of Liverpool City Region’s Freeport, this development can unlock significant investment and create thousands of jobs, while delivering both economic and environmental freight solutions for the region. We are committed to working with our partners and the local community to ensure these benefits are fully realised.”
The developer has used feedback from its first informal consultation earlier this year to refine its plans, which include a large-scale intermodal rail terminal, logistics accommodation, and warehousing. The second consultation period begins now (Tuesday, 28 October) and runs to Tuesday, 23 December 2025. Residents, businesses, and other stakeholders have been encouraged to review and comment on the updated proposals. A series of in-person consultation events will also be held across the local area.