EDDIE Stobart Logistics (ESL) confirmed in late-January its trial of a new intermodal railfreight flow from the Port of Tilbury to Daventry in Northamptonshire had been successful and will be rolled out as a daily service this year.
The Stobart Rail-branded service, hauled by Direct Rail Services (DRS), has an initial capacity of 200 containers a week.
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It is expected to increase runs daily ‘within weeks’, with a second flow from Tilbury to Widnes in Cheshire also planned.
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The train has been introduced as part of a strategy to reduce ESL’s reliance on short Channel crossings between Calais and Dover, which are expected to be most severely affected if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal to secure continued free trade.
Read more in the March 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!