New freight link to revive Northfleet (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK News) 23rd June 2012

The Northfleet freight railway launched yesterday (June 21st) is to create jobs and help give the impression that the region is open for business, according to local MP Bob Neill.

Opening the rail line, he described it as a "win-win" situation for the area, with commercial advantages underlined by the benefits it will deliver to the environment.

He added that the project would help enhance the area's infrastructure and attract more jobs and business to the site by linking it to the Thames Gateway.

The freight railway is expected to increase efficiency and take around 50,000 lorries off the road a year, with Crossrail to work on the project until 2018.

According to Invest Thames Gateway, the area offers "one of the most versatile port clusters in the world".

It has invested a great deal in sustainable energy solutions such as this new freight railway, as the UK bids to cut its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2020.