Willesden Logistics Hub Explained

Willesden Logistics Hub
Address:Willesden
Borough:Brent
Country:England
Status:Operational

Willesden Logistics Hub is a freight railway station situated adjacent to the West Coast Main Line in Willesden, England.

History

The site was rebuilt to handle container freight through the Channel Tunnel and was known as Willesden Euro Terminal, one of nine such facilities constructed. Prior to this, it was already in use as a freight handling yard.[1] The first train departed for the tunnel on 27 June 1994.[2] However, the site did not see as much use as hoped due to declining levels of freight trains using the Channel Tunnel. As a result, the customs facilities were de-staffed, and eventually the site stopped handling international trains. It continued to be used for domestic railfreight purposes.[3]

The site was identified by High Speed 2 (HS2) as a candidate for use as a construction compound. Work started in 2018 to dismantle the disused cranes at the site. This was completed in March 2019.[4]

The first train ran from the refurbished facility on 2 July 2021.[5]

Usage

The facility is expected to handle up to eight freight trains per day during the construction of HS2.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Waite. Jordan. 2017-07-12. Have You Seen These Remnants Of A Failed Eurotunnel Project?. 2021-07-03. Londonist. en.
  2. Web site: 2019-02-25. Willesden cranes make way for HS2 logistics yard. 2021-07-03. The Construction Index. en.
  3. Web site: International rail freight post-Brexit. 2021-07-03. Rail Delivery Group. 23.
  4. Web site: 2019-03-15. Works now finished at HS2 Willesden Euro terminal. 2021-07-03. John F Hunt. en-GB.
  5. Web site: Roberts. Matt. 2021-07-02. First trains depart from HS2's Willesden Logistics Hub. 2021-07-03. Rail Technology Magazine. en.
  6. Web site: 2020-09-02. HS2 Deliveries to Take 1.5m Lorries from Roads. 2021-07-03. UK Construction Online. en.