DP World Southampton will revise the incentive rates under its Modal Shift Programme (MSP) from 1 October 2026.
The programme encourages import containers to move from Southampton by rail rather than road.
The new rates will remain in place until the end of December 2026.
Import container incentive falls to £35
Until 30 September, import clearing agents receive £50 per laden import container moved within the MSP incentive zone.
From 1 October, this incentive will decrease to £35 per container.
Meanwhile, the incentive available to Rail Freight Terminal Operators (RFTOs) will increase.
RFTOs currently receive £20 for each eligible laden import container moved by rail. From October, they can receive a performance-based incentive of £35 per container, subject to achieving required volumes.
The £10 MSP fee applied to laden import containers will remain unchanged.
The programme does not apply to containers moved by road.
Scheme covers railheads within 140 miles
The MSP incentive zone extends approximately 140 miles from DP World Southampton.
Eligible intermodal railheads include Avonmouth, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Daventry, East Midlands Gateway, London Gateway, Northampton and Portbury, among others.
The programme aims to encourage a greater share of import containers to move inland by rail.
DP World Southampton is expected to review the scheme again during the last week of November. The review will determine incentive levels applying from 1 January 2027.
