Inquiry in to rail freight plans (BBC News)
 

A developer presents three schemes for a giant rail freight terminal in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire to a planning inquiry.

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An interesting one this. I can't see how they reckon there are any paths available for freight in between Midland Mainlne and FCC services.

EWS, Freightliner HH and GBRf already work this section and they've said in the past that if any more paths can be found they need them.

Added to which FCC plans to run significantly more trains per hour once the Thameslink Programme is completed and new rolling stock arrives in 2015.

Hertfordshire seems a strange place for a depot. The closest convenient Ports are Felixtowe and Harwich, yet its not that easy to travel East from there without going via London or via Bury St Edmunds, which as Flying Pig suggests will just make the main lines North-South even busier. Perhaps they are planning to shift bulk freight and containers via the South coast ports which although not much further have all the problems associated with crossing London ?