Eddie Stobart Logistics has announced that they have launched a new rail service in the United Kingdom.

The new rail service will run from the Port of Tilbury to Daventry, this is the only rail operation from the port for inbound traffic with a forecast of around 200 containers per week.

This is part of Eddie Stobart’s ongoing strategy to provide exceptional flexibility and resilience for customer supply chains.

Within a few weeks, the Tilbury to Daventry route will have expanded to run daily Monday to Friday. Eddie Stobart Logistics also plans to have a weekly service linking to its operations in Widnes, Cheshire.

The train service from Tilbury to Daventry, and then onto Mossend, has undergone a four-month trial which has saved massively on fuel and road miles, whilst remaining cost-effective for Eddie Stobart’s customers.

Figures have shown that the pilot trial saved 920,000 miles and 102,000 gallons of diesel, and reduced journey times and congestion in the London area.

Eddie Stobart is working closely with its clients, such as Samskip, ECS, JF Hillebrand and other key customers to ensure its port-side, rail and road operations are optimised and are appropriate for their needs.

What did the officials say?

John Clark, Sector Director for ESL, said:

“Eddie Stobart Logistics works with some of the biggest import and retail customers operating in the UK, and their priority is to ensure the reliability and adaptability of their supply chains whatever circumstances they face in the future,”

“Unlike many rail operators, our services are built in response to customer requirements. The service leaves Tilbury at 9 am and reaches Daventry at 3 pm. This will allow our customers to get fresh produce into regional distribution centres or stores across the UK on the same day. This careful timing is essential to retailers who otherwise lose much of their products’ freshness and value.”

“Our rail-freight offering is extensive but it is also strategic and flexible, designed to be the perfect complement to Eddie Stobart’s road transport fleet”

“We started using rail in 2006 in partnership with Tesco, and ESL remains one of the only UK operators that can offer genuine modal choice to its customers. Where rail fits the client’s freight profile, we can save them time and carbon emissions. We also test every rail service against the most efficient road equivalent – double-deck trailers – in order to ensure the cost viability of every journey.”

“Rail is complementary to the road, not a replacement. However, trains don’t get stuck in traffic jams so the service is extremely reliable. We’ve developed our rail offering to meet the modern needs of FMCG and container traffic.”

“The rail network is prioritised for passengers, and we understand this completely. However, with some targeted national investment, we believe the network could bring greater benefits to both passenger and freight services.”

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