A new daily rail service has been introduced at Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe. This new service is operated by GB Railfreight1 for Maritime Transport2 and connects the port with Birch Coppice in the Midlands. It is the fifteenth operated by GB Railfreight and the twelfth daily rail connection from the port to destinations in the Midlands.
Commenting on the latest addition to the port’s roster of rail services, Robert Ashton, Operations Director at the Port of Felixstowe, said: ‘Increasing the proportion of traffic moving by rail is an important part of our strategy to offer the widest possible range of sustainable transport options through the Port of Felixstowe. We are investing in new plant and equipment as part of our own drive towards net-zero and are working with partners, including GB Railfreight and Maritime Transport to help others remove carbon from their supply chains.
‘With three dedicated rail terminals at the port we offer more rail services to more inland destinations with greater frequency than any other UK port.’
Julie Garn, General Manager Intermodal, said: ‘Working closely with Maritime Transport and the Port of Felixstowe, this new service will play an important part in alleviating some of the pressure facing the UK supply chain. Increasing the number of services from Felixstowe is an efficient and environmentally friendly way to meet growing consumer demand, with an average freight train removing up to 76 HGVs from the road.’
John Bailey, Managing Director – Intermodal and Terminals, Maritime Transport, added: ‘We are thrilled to launch this new service with GB Railfreight. Our investment in new routes, new equipment, and our terminals enables us to provide the most advanced logistics solutions, and reflects our drive to deliver increased resource at a time when the industry is facing huge challenges. We have achieved unrivalled success in the intermodal sector in a very short period of time, but we are only at the start of a journey that will continue to see us challenge the industry norms and accelerate modal shift.’
New cargo-handling equipment due
As part of its commitment to reducing carbon, the port recently placed an order for 48 battery-powered terminal tractors and 17 zero-emission remote controlled electric rubber-tyred gantry cranes.
Destinations served by rail from Felixstowe
The destinations currently served by rail from the Port of Felixstowe are: Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Teesport, Birmingham, Birch Coppice, Doncaster, East Midlands Gateway, Hams Hall, Wakefield, Ditton (Widnes), Rotherham, iPort Rossington and Cardiff.
About Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe
Hutchison Ports Port of Felixstowe is strategically located on the UK’s South East coast and within easy reach of major ports in North West continental Europe.
As the UK’s first purpose-built container-handling facility, it is also the largest and busiest container port in the country. With three rail terminals, it also has the busiest and biggest intermodal rail freight facility in the UK. The latest phase of development, Berths 8&9, provides additional deep-water capacity for the world’s largest container ships.
About Hutchison Ports
Hutchison Ports is the port and related services division of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited. Hutchison Ports is the world’s leading port investor, developer and operator with a network of port operations in 52 ports spanning 26 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia.
Over the years, Hutchison Ports has expanded into other logistics and transport-related businesses, including cruise ship terminals, distribution centres, rail services and ship repair facilities.
Picture caption
The new daily rail service arriving at the Port of Felixstowe from Birch Coppice in the Midlands.
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