CRP worked closely with partners from Network Rail, the London Borough of Lambeth, the Department for Transport, London and Continental Railways, Delivery Mates, and Waterloo Station, to transform underutilised space at Waterloo Station into a Freight Hub to facilitate more efficient and sustainable last-mile logistics across London.

This pioneering trial was awarded the CiTTi Awards 2025 ‘Last Mile Logistics Award’ in recognition of its “clear business benefits and positive environmental impacts for the borough and wider locality.”

Concept & Feasibility

The Waterloo Freight Hub has been developed by CRP since 2022. CRP commissioned feasibility and impact studies funded through Clean Air Villages 4, Clean Air Logistics for London and Clean Air Freight, funded by Defra and Impact on Urban Health. This includes:

• a pan-London Rail Freight feasibility study by Momentum Transport Consultancy
• a report focussing on infrastructure for rail freight in Lambeth and Southwark by Steer
• a Waterloo Freight Hub Impact report by Intermodality
• an Express Freight Market Analysis by Steer
• Advanced Timetable Planning analysis by Network Rail.

These reports by Steer and Intermodality highlighted the many positive impacts of increasing rail freight coming into Waterloo Station, supported by zero emission onward road journeys across London. With the Waterloo Freight Hub concept in development, a 6-month road-fed trial would provide a vital proof of concept to support our ambitions to deliver a much larger multi-modal freight hub.

CRP also undertook baseline traffic and noise monitoring to ensure that any freight impacts on the local area were minimised.

The Trial Explained

Running from March to July 2025, the Waterloo Freight Hub Trial saw logistics operator Delivery Mates transport parcels into the undercroft of Waterloo Station by van, before they are sorted and sent to residents and businesses by  electrically-assisted cargo bikes across London.  The Waterloo Freight Hub Trial was funded by Defra, through CRP’s Smarter Greener Logistics programme.

Trial Insights & Impact

The Waterloo Freight Hub trial has delivered impressive environmental, economic and community benefits, supporting to reduce congestion, improve productivity, air quality and the health of Londoners moving around the city.

Phase 2: Supporting deliveries over Christmas 2025

An additional 3 months of data will be gathered through an agreement between LCR, DfT, Network Rail and Delivery Mates to operate from the Waterloo Freight Hub from the end of 2025 to early 2026. This will support communities across London and the logistics sector with more cargo bike deliveries during busy months for parcel deliveries.

The Long-Term Vision: A Multi-Modal Waterloo Freight Hub

This Phase 1 trial will serve as a proof of concept to scale and adapt the hub to meet future ecommerce demand and change how goods are moved across Britain. The long-term vision for the project is to develop a much larger, multi-operator, and multi-modal sustainable freight hub, serviced by road, rail and river middle mile deliveries and last-mile deliveries by small, low emission vehicles such as electrically assisted cargo bikes and walking trollies.

Steer and Intermodality studies suggest the hub could generate significant economic, social and environmental benefits through rail and road-fed deliveries, which could serve 3.5 million residents and 200,000 businesses across inner London.

Delivering Future Impact

CRP is actively exploring funding opportunities and sources to support the delivery of the Multi-Modal and Multi-Operator Waterloo Freight Hub. This will include:

• Retrofitting of existing arches in the Waterloo Station undercroft
• Development of rail freight tests, trials and long-term services from key freight hubs across Britain, such as the Midlands.
• Welfare facilities to support riders, train and van drivers to carry out their work as efficiently and effectively as possible
• Project development time and resource to ensure that this is delivered in a holistic manner, utilising CRP’s network of stakeholders and experience in delivering Phase 1 of the project.

Here’s how you can help us to make that happen:

• Direct us to funding & sponsorship opportunities
• Offer us funding, sponsorship, skills or knowledge
• Gain national government support for the Hub
• Advise us on optimal procurement routes
• Spread the word – share plans for the Hub with your network
• Subscribe to CRP’s newsletter to receive regular updates

Please do get in touch with Project Lead for the Waterloo Freight Hub, CRP Sustainable Transport Manager Ross Phillips.

For more information on the project see the Useful Links section.

Watch the progress of the Waterloo Freight Hub trial development below!