Logistics
Fast access to the major road, rail and air networks gives Northamptonshire an unrivalled position as a strategic gateway to the whole of the UK and beyond. Ninety-five per cent of the UK's population are located within four hours of Northamptonshire, making it a very convenient business location.
Air - Northamptonshire has five international airports and three major air freight hubs nearby. Gatwick and Heathrow are the UK's biggest airports and run charter, schedule and cargo flights to destinations across all continents. London Luton, Birmingham, Nottingham East Midlands and Stansted are regional airports offering international flights as well as domestic routes. They also run flights from "low cost" airlines which fly to hundreds of destinations in the UK and Europe. Sywell Aerodrome, near Northampton, is the UK's best grass airfield for private aircraft.
Rail - Northamptonshire has four rail stations. Wellingborough and Kettering stations are on the principle Midland Mainline routes. From either station there are frequent services to London St. Pancras, taking approximately 60 minutes. The stations also run services to cities including Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Northampton and Long Buckby stations are on the Silverlink County line which runs south to London Euston and north to Birmingham New Street. From Northampton station there are also Virgin train services which give a 60 minute journey time to Euston.
Rail Freight - Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) was opened in 1997 and remains a state of the art facility serving destinations throughout the UK and mainland Europe. Eurohub near Corby has a major rail freight terminal which allows mile-long trains to travel directly from Corby to Paris.
Road - The M1, M40 and M45 motorways, A43 and A14 and many other main roads pass through the county. London is less than an hour away, so businesses needing links to the capital can operate successsfully from a highly cost-competitive base.
Sea - Dover, Folkestone and Lowestoft are the UK's major south-eastern ports, and can be reached well within three hours.