The Department for Transport announced the transfer of the Eurohub terminal in Barking to rail infrastructure operator Network Rail and its development arm, Platform4, for long-term management. Located in east London, the facility is the only terminal in the country capable of handling European-gauge trains on the High Speed 1 line, which connects the capital with the Channel Tunnel.
Network Rail intends to attract up to £15 million in private investment to transform Eurohub into a major multimodal logistics hub. The project envisions handling trains up to 700 meters long and the launch of regular container services for import and export cargo across the Channel, with connections to France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Currently, rail freight through the tunnel accounts for a small market share, while the majority of freight between the UK and continental Europe is transported by sea and road.
The transfer of the terminal is part of the industry reform strategy and the creation of a new state-owned company, Great British Railways, which will be responsible for infrastructure management and freight transport development. According to the DfT, rail freight volumes grew by 5% year-on-year in the 2024/25 financial year, and the multimodal segment grew by 4% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.