Port plans to double track lines

Felixstowe Port wants to move more freight onto rail

Plans to lay double tracks on the Ipswich to Felixstowe Dock rail line have been put to the 900 residents who live along its length.

The port also plans to build three new sidings in Ranelagh Road marshalling yards in Ipswich.

Richard Pearson, managing director of Huchison Ports, who own Felixstowe, said: "This is part of a consultation process lasting until the end of July.

"We hope to have 12 extra daily freight trains using the tracks by 2020."

New deep-water terminal

Leaflets about the plans have been delivered to the 900 homes, a special web page has been set up on the port's site and details of proposals lodged with libraries.

The port says its aim is to avoid more than 500,000 road freight journeys a year by using the new rail link.

Mr Pearson said: "We aim to create a new deep-water container terminal in the now largely redundant dock basin and increase the quay length.

"The new terminal would bring another 621 jobs to Felixstowe and the rail link will help to cut traffic on the areas already busy roads."