Freight transportation operator XPO has started a three-month trial of a multimodal solution that is both innovative and the only one of its kind in the UK.

Freight destined for Scotland will be migrated from its shared user pallet network to a new multimodal solution that uses an overnight rail service operated by Malcolm Logistics for the linehaul part of the journey. Malcolm Logistics will provide the rail service through a key partnership agreement with XPO, and is able to accommodate loads of all sizes.

In 2022, XPO started its first UK road-rail option for pipe manufacturer Wavin by combining full truckload transport and a daytime rail service. The combination of a pallet network and overnight rail freight maintains companies’ required lead times and is expected to be quicker than traditional road transport.

The multimodal option also has the added benefit that the cost is much the same but comes with a significantly reduced environmental impact. Customers of XPO in the Midlands who consign traffic to Scotland can reduce a pallet’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 79%.

The current trial covers a distance of more than 500 kilometres from Crick to XPO’s distribution hub at Motherwell in Scotland. Road transport is used for the short distance from Crick to the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal in Northamptonshire, where it is transferred to rail for onward transport to Mossend Rail Terminal in Scotland, and then by road to XPO’s distribution hub in Motherwell.

By using the multimodal combination, the total journey time from Crick to Motherwell is about two hours less than the same journey by truck, but without the consequent risk of road delays and also reducing road congestion. With each vehicle journey being about 600 miles, it equates to a saving of 705 kg of CO2 per trip.

Dan Myers, XPO’s Managing Director for UK and Ireland, said, “The passion of our entire team is to challenge ourselves to be better, to support our customers and to realise improvements, which is hugely motivating. This single initiative will reduce emissions by almost 513,000 kilos of CO2 per annum for a customer whose shipments require two vehicle trips per day.”