The UK logistics operator, Maritime Transport has announced a new rail freight service, which connects DP World London Gateway to Maritime’s intermodal freight terminal in Tamworth (BIFT).
The new service, which will be operated by GB Railfreight (GBRf), commenced on 28 June and will run six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, with a total transport capacity of 87TEU in each direction.
The new product aims to deliver freight users a secure, direct link to consumer and manufacturing regions in the West Midlands and south of England, according to Maritime Transport.
GBRf now operates eight intermodal services into Maritime’s rail terminals in Manchester, Wakefield, East Midlands Gateway, and BIFT.
“Together with the seven intermodal services we already operate for Maritime Transport, the extra capacity created by the BIFT to London Gateway flow reinforces the vital role rail freight is playing in delivering goods sustainably around the country,” said John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight.
This will be the third service of Maritime Transport into DP World’s logistics hub at London Gateway. John Trenchard, UK Commercial and Supply Chain Director at DP World London Gateway, believes it will enable more customers to benefit from fast, reliable, and flexible links to international supply chains and markets.
Additionally, the launch of a new daily connection will result in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, saving over 4 million road miles per year in an increasingly congested road network, according to Maritime Transport, which acquired BIFT in 2014 as part of the acquisition deal with Roadways Container Logistics.
The box throughput of the terminal has increased over the years due to additional services, continued investment in container handling equipment, and improved turnaround times, according to an announcement. In 2011, BIFT saw an average weekly volume of 1,000 containers, rising to 2,500 in 2020, and now boasts an average vehicle turnaround time of 26 minutes.
