Fresh look at Port of Liverpool access highlights potential for rail freight

A new study exploring ways of improving access to the Port of Liverpool has found that there is the potential to significantly increase the amount of freight brought in and out of the port by rail; aiding growth and relieving pressures on the surrounding road network. Currently, it is estimated that just:- 2% of the port's containerised freight is transported by rail: far less than other major ports around the UK.

The report proposes a radical new freight routeing strategy that responds to the capacity limitations on today's national rail network, especially the constraints across Manchester, for which no solution is in sight. If explored, this option also has the potential to aid the expansion of the Merseyrail passenger service as far as:- Preston; an ambition of the Liverpool City Region Mayor's:- "Merseyrail for All" initiative.

A separate, but potentially complementary approach in the report; proposes the development of an inland port / logistics hub near the:- M57 and M58 Motorways, fed by a revived rail link from the port area. It explains that this could use innovative, automated technology, increasingly seen in use in world ports to shift short trainloads of containers between:- the port and nearby trans-shipment hubs, improving port efficiency and reducing the number of HGV journeys through residential areas.

The independent report was commissioned by Rimrose Valley Friends, who successfully campaigned against National Highways' Port of Liverpool Access Road, from:- 2017 to 2024 and committed to pursuing alternative solutions after the scheme was cancelled.

Funded by the Foundation for Integrated Transport, and led by industry experts Greengauge21 and Jonathan Roberts Consulting, the in depth study correlates shipping data with road traffic movements and, for the 1st time, identifies specific docks within the port which account for the largest number of HGV movements.

Report Co-author and Greengauge 21 Director Jim Steer explains:- "The potential:- ‘new' routes for freight would require targeted investment in the existing rail network and, it is estimated, could be capable of delivery within a:- 5 to 10 year period. The Manchester rail network is a bottleneck which isn't addressed by the:- 'Trans Pennine Route Upgrade (TRU),' nor; as far as railfreight is concerned; by schemes such as:- 'Stage 2 of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR)' the proposed new Liverpool-Manchester rail link. What emerges from this report is a low-cost solution to this problem."

Jonathan Roberts, Managing Director at consultancy JRC Ltd and the report's Co-author, said:- "It was essential to understand Port of Liverpool cargo flows at a dock level, to assess traffic volumes on the approach roads to different docks. We ran a full month analysis of all cargo shipping and their docking, with linked estimates of HGV traffic. The survey provided clarity about the scale of the port's overall HGV traffic and its busiest road corridors, which were the A5036 and Miller's Bridge / Breeze Hill."

Speaking about the report's findings, Stu Bennett of Rimrose Valley Friends said:- "The Liverpool City Region's Local Transport Plan sets out an extremely positive direction for both passenger AND freight transport in our region for the years ahead. We believe that this piece of work is in line with that and should be prioritised, given its potential to aid economic growth and improve the lives of those living and working alongside the Port of Liverpool, today. We're therefore urging our Combined Authority, Sefton Council and Peel Ports themselves to use this as an opportunity to reinstate meetings of the Port Access Steering Group with renewed purpose, and to work with other stakeholders including Network Rail, the Rail Freight industry and the Department for Transport to study the report's findings and recommendations. In particular, Peel Ports' involvement will be critical, as only they can advise where this freight is going, and which rail routes have potential. We always said we wouldn't walk away from the problems of port access, and we meant it. Getting as much freight off our roads and onto rail is an ambition of the current government and our City Region. We're therefore excited by the report's findings and are incredibly grateful to the Foundation for Integrated Transport for funding this piece of work."