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Green corridor to link East and Midlands freeports

[ May 22, 2024   //   ]

Freeport East and East Midlands Freeport are to set up a green freight corridor between the two sites.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed by Freeport East chief executive Steve Beel and East Midlands Freeport chief executive Tom Newman-Taylor on 22 the two freeports will work together with public and private sector partners, particularly in the logistics sector.

The initiative will emphasise investment to support the decarbonisation of transport flows and will accelerate the business models, innovation and infrastructure to drive decarbonisation through green hydrogen, electric charging systems and technology such as digital twins.

A green corridor between the UK’s largest container port and the Midlands logistics Golden Triangle offers the opportunity to combine maritime and land transport decarbonisation initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of goods entering and leaving the UK, says the partners.

Projects already underway to support the corridor include green logistics infrastructure in Felixstowe, Stowmarket and East Midlands Gateway. Freeport East is also developing a Green Hydrogen Hub while East Midlands Freeport is supporting the transition of the UK’s last coal fired power station at Ratcliffe on Soar to clean energy.

The parties have also identified the opportunity to strengthen collaboration on skills development. East Midlands Freeport is progressing plans for a Future Energy Skills Hub and has invested £17m in a Zero Carbon Innovation Centre, while Freeport East is looking to develop innovation and skills centres in Stowmarket and Harwich. 

Deputy chief executive of Maritime Transport, Tom Williams, added: “The new green corridor initiative will further increase rail transport for Midlands-bound cargo with battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks completing first and final mile transport. UK Freeports are perfect places for businesses to collaborate and grow and this partnership is an exciting step towards a cleaner, more efficient UK freight industry.”

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