Cross River Partnership has launched a six-month trial of a new zero-emission freight logistics hub at Waterloo Station, designed to reduce transport emissions and improve air quality across London.
Backed by Defra through its Smarter Greener Logistics programme, the Waterloo Freight Hub will use underutilised space beneath Waterloo Station to receive parcels by van before distributing them to customers using electrically assisted cargo bikes. The trial is being delivered in collaboration with Network Rail, the London Borough of Lambeth, the Department for Transport, London and Continental Railways, and courier firm Delivery Mates.
Operating from a repurposed 1,800 sq. ft arch beneath the station, the trial will use 10 cargo bikes to complete the final leg of parcel journeys to residents and businesses across the capital. With freight transport accounting for a quarter of all road emissions in London—and parcel volumes expected to double to 1 billion annually by 2030—the project aims to model a scalable solution for low-carbon urban logistics.
Mike Putnam, acting chair of Network Rail, said: “Network Rail are excited to be part of an innovative approach to utilising facilities at Waterloo Station and hope that it can demonstrate the potential to trial zero-tailpipe emission infrastructure and future rail freight opportunities at the Waterloo Freight Hub. These trials are crucial to supporting Network Rail in its commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050. This 6-month trial will ensure that Network Rail are taking an evidence-based approach to delivering environmental sustainability projects and ensuring that we share best-practice from this innovative project across London.”
The scheme also aligns with the London Borough of Lambeth’s Climate Action Plan, which targets net zero by 2030. Councillor Rezina Chowdhury, deputy leader and cabinet member for sustainable Lambeth and clean air, said: “We are making remarkable progress on our commitment to meet Net Zero by 2030 and clean up the toxic air in Lambeth. The Waterloo Freight Hub is another huge stride on that journey and one that will help drive clean economic growth and new jobs in Waterloo and beyond.”
Delivery Mates will manage the day-to-day operations, with COO Kevin Savage calling the initiative “an exciting opportunity to engage further with the rail sector whilst further strengthening Delivery Mates’ capability to deliver sustainable logistics to customers, residents and local retailers. We look forward to playing a part in reducing congestion, removing emissions and creating a safer delivery environment for all stakeholders within Lambeth and across all of London.”
Ross Phillips, sustainable transport manager at Cross River Partnership, said: “Cross River Partnership is extremely pleased to be working with so many partners to launch the Waterloo Freight Hub 6-month Trial. This has been a truly collaborative process between many public and private stakeholders, and we hope it can help to demonstrate the long-term potential for transforming the way that freight comes into, and is delivered across, London. We can look forward to less congested streets, smaller / quieter and non-polluting vehicles, as well as deliveries via rail at a fraction of the cost of road transport.”
Learnings from the trial will inform plans for a longer-term and larger-scale freight hub, potentially using rail and river as part of a wider multimodal solution to decarbonise London’s freight network.
