Freightliner, along with several industry partners, has celebrated the launch of the new Tilbury2 to Manchester Trafford Park intermodal rail freight service. This new service, transporting containers arriving from Europe, is particularly significant as it was made possible by the Access Charge Discount scheme, recently launched by Network Rail to support the launch of new services and encourage modal shift to rail.
Tim Shoveller Freightliner, CEO, said:
"We are thrilled to see this new service up and running. The Access Charge Discount scheme is an important initiative to deliver modal shift and achieve industry growth targets. We are pleased that our new daily train for P&O Ferrymasters is the first service to use the new Access Charge Discount scheme, enabling us to deliver our customers' goods more sustainably."
This service is delivering significant modal shift removing HGVs from some of Britain’s busiest motorways and cutting carbon emissions by 76% compared to road. The launch of the service was made possible by the new Network Rail Access Charge Discount scheme, which provides a period of time where charges are waived, to grow volumes and enable the service to become financially sustainable.
John Freyne, Director Intermodal at P&O Ferrymasters said:
“We have successfully implemented numerous rail corridors across Europe in collaboration with our valued customers. We are pleased that the industry has worked collaboratively to make this new UK service a reality. We expect the roundtrip train to take around 10,000 trucks off busy UK roads annually, enabling us to remove thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions from the supply chains of our customers. Adding a UK rail service to our extensive European Multimodal network has been a key goal for us, and we are delighted that the new Network Rail scheme has made this possible.”
The new scheme, announced by Network Rail, offers 6 months free track access charges to support the launch of a new rail services, helping to drive modal shift and incentivise businesses to use rail freight.
Paul McMahon Network Rail, Director of Planning and Regulation, added:
"Rail freight plays a crucial role in our economy, and it does so in a sustainable way. The launch of this service is a great example of how Network Rail can play a big role in growing our economy in a way that minimises our impact on the environment."
This new Freightliner service will depart from Tilbury2, one of London’s major ports, to Manchester Trafford Park running 5 days a week – it is the first service to utilise Network Rail’s new scheme.
Paul Dale, Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports, commented:
“Green rail logistics is transforming our customers’ supply chains and this new service from our rail terminal in Tilbury2 is a prime example. The partnership approach between Freightliner, P&O Ferrymasters and Forth Ports has created a tailored solution that will help drive sustainability up-and-down this important British supply chain.”
Jen Craft, MP for Thurrock, said:
“Rail is central to the growth of the green economy and I’m pleased to see the proactive steps taken by Network Rail, Forth Ports and its partners to deliver this daily rail service carrying food and other essentials across the country.”
Freightliner, along with industry partners, is committed to using the development of Network Rail’s new discount scheme as a springboard for a policy framework that delivers growth and drives modal shift into the future.
