The West Midlands Interchange (WMI), the UK’s largest logistics development, has announced a long-term agreement with Maritime Transport. This collaboration positions Maritime Transport as the strategic operator of WMI's Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) on the West Coast Mainline.
The £1 billion WMI project is integral to establishing the nation’s largest intermodal logistics site. With the initial phase of development already underway on the 734-acre site, the project includes extensive infrastructure work aimed at supporting both the logistical and community aspects of the region.
Oxford Properties and Logistics Capital Partners (LCP), who jointly acquired the WMI site in 2021, have expressed that this partnership is pivotal to realizing the vision of creating a leading intermodal logistics facility in the UK. The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to the regional and national economy while emphasizing sustainable logistics practices.
The strategic importance of the SRFI in decarbonizing the UK's logistics network is underlined by the potential of rail freight to significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared to road freight. The collaboration with Maritime Transport, a leading provider of road and rail freight logistics, aims to harness this potential to meet wider environmental goals.
“This next step to create the leading intermodal logistics facility in the UK’s Golden Triangle is a significant one. Maritime are the leaders in their field, and WMI is the leading logistics development in the country – the two coming together will deliver a significant boost to the regional and national economy,” commented James Boadle, Senior Vice President at Oxford Properties.
