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Truck and Track Spring 2019 66
RAILFREIGHT
Maritime Transport & DB Cargo UK announce
agreement to increase UK railfreight capacity
Two of the UK’s largest freight operators have announced plans
to combine their expertise to increase railfreight capacity and
competition in the intermodal market.
After reaching agreement in principle with DB Cargo UK, Maritime
Transport Ltd. has announced the launch of a new division –
“Maritime Intermodal” which will initially contract four dedicated
services out of Felixstowe and Southampton.
Maritime is currently Road Haulier of the Year and DB Cargo UK
is Rail Freight Operator of the Year. The long-term agreement will
enable each organisation to operate to its strengths, driving up
service and efficiency which will result in increased intermodal
capacity and growth in railfreight.
Under the terms of the proposed agreement:
■■DB Cargo UKwill be contracted to runMaritime Intermodal’s rail
operations out of Felixstowe and Southampton.
■■Maritime Intermodal will take on responsibility for DB Cargo
UK’s terminals in Trafford Park, Manchester and Wakefield in
West Yorkshire, thus strengthening the road haulier’s national
network of strategic hubs.
■■Maritime Intermodal is committed to significant investment in
both equipment and groundworks at the two sites, improving
terminal turnaround times whilst also increasing container
storage capacities. The terminals will remain open-access
to both intermodal and non-intermodal services. Maritime
Intermodal will retain existing services and seek additional
services from all UK ports with all freight operating companies
with the intention of increasing its intermodal offering.
■■Maritime Intermodal will take responsibility for DB Cargo
UK’s existing intermodal customers on its Felixstowe and
Southampton services.
■■DB Cargo UK will retain and grow its remaining intermodal
business including key flows to and from Scotland.
Hans-Georg Werner, CEO of DB Cargo UK, said: “This is an exciting
new agreement that brings together two of the largest and most
successful freight companies in the UK to offer an industry-leading
service to customers.
“It will enable DB Cargo UK to focus on what it does best – the
efficient and reliable running of rail freight services, while giving
Maritime the platform to offer its customers further capacity to
move its container traffic.”
He added: “Intermodal is the fastest growing freight market, yet
our terminals were under-utilised. Maritime is a very successful
logistics business and has the volumes and desire to turn these
assets into sustainable and profitable distribution centres. It’s a
real win-win and we look forward to working with Maritime going
forward.”
John Williams, Executive Chairman of Maritime Group, said: “We
are delighted to announce the launch of Maritime Intermodal, a
new division of our business created with the intention of offering
increased resource to our customers in an increasingly difficult
market place.”
He added: “In addition, over the four services alone, more than
32 million miles will be taken off the UK road network each year,
reducing both congestion and carbon dioxide emissions. This
further enhances our creativity in developing intermodal solutions
for our customers.”
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