Felixstowe Branch Line TWAO

The Secretary of State for Transport has made the Network Rail (Felixstowe Branch Line Improvements – Level Crossings Closure) Order 2018, which secures the closure of six level crossings and authorises the construction of a bridleway bridge over the Felixstowe branch line in Suffolk. The railway line serves the strategically important Port of Felixstowe, and the Order enables the implementation of earlier proposals for the dualling of the line in Trimley, resulting in a significant increase in capacity for freight trains serving the Port. The Secretary of State agreed with his Inspector’s view that the Order scheme would meet the objective of completing the wider proposals to improve the Branch line and address identified increased risks to safety at the level crossings that would result from the construction of a second track. Richard Turney acted for Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, instructed by Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, at the Inquiry into the Order.