Tesco and DRS (Direct Rail Services) have signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, which will continue the operations of Tesco container trains by rail until 2028.

Tesco’s Move to rail transport has reduced their carbon footprint massively, not just in the UK but across Europe, as foods picked in Spain can now be transported to England and Scotland entirely by train.

Back in October, Tesco announced a new freight service between Daventry and Trafford Park, as the supermarket chain continues to flourish.

The new agreement ensures that DRS will persist in providing safe, secure, and dependable rail operations within the framework of their ongoing partnership with Tesco, which will see them operate the following trains:

• Daventry to Mossend
• Mossend to Teesport
• Daventry to Tilbury x 2
• Tilbury to Coatbridge
• Daventry to Wentloog
• Daventry to Teesport via Doncaster
• Mossend to Inverness
• Daventry to Manchester

“We’re very pleased to continue our long-standing work with Tesco, which has developed over the last 12 years, and demonstrates the fantastic service we provide our customers and the value rail freight can bring.

The environmental and socio-economic benefits of using rail are well proven and we are delighted to be working with Tesco for at least another three years.

Recently, we launched Tesco’s tenth rail freight service, removing thousands of lorries from the road and saving 6,000t CO2e per year. Rail emits 76 percent less CO2 when compared to road and each Tesco train takes around 40 lorries off the road.

Every month we transport over 12,000 containers, travelling thousands of miles safely, securely and reliably to ensure vital products are available and shelves are stocked all year round across Great Britain.”

Gottfried Eymer, NTS Rail Director