Truck and Track Summer 2021

www.truckandtrack.com Summer 2021 Truck and Track 67 RAILFREIGHT GB Railfreight (GBRf ) and Mediterranean Shipping Company (UK) Ltd. (MSC) are delighted to announce a new five-year deal, further strengthening their long-established relationship and joint commitment to delivering sustainable solutions for customers. GBRf has been a provider of rail services to MSC since 2002. Their knowledge and expertise in supplying locomotives and wagons, combined with MSC’s extensive line haulage services, enables the two companies to deliver market leading door-to-door services to their customers. The new agreement will be volume-based and is expected to increase wagon utilisation that, in turn, will help further reduce carbon emissions. MSC commented: “MSC is once again delighted to confirm a new five year deal with GBRf who have been supporting MSC with our Intermodal rail services since 2002. Our priority was to continue to offer unparalleled capability and flexibility to our line haulage customers in a fast paced and ever evolving UK intermodal market. Increased wagon utilisation was a key component from the start and engagement with ports and inland terminals to support this initiative took place early on. We are delighted that our new shared contract will allow both MSC and GBRf to continue our work in taking steps to reduce CO 2 emissions by moving containers via rail, closer to final destination.” The services will operate from Felixstowe and London Gateway to both the Midlands and Yorkshire , with a minimum commitment of five days a week. Over the course of the next five years, the deal will remain agile and be able to provide flexibility to changing market dynamics while supporting MSC’s intermodal volume growth. John Smith, Managing Director at GB Railfreight, said: “We are thrilled to have signed this contract with MSC. They are a longstanding partner and one of the leading shipping and logistics companies in theworld, andwe are delighted to be able to continue working with them for the next five years. “Given MSC’s projected future growth, we have struck a flexible agreement which will allow both parties to make better use of the services we share. As a business, we always put the clients first and we are delighted to be able to cater for MSC’s needs with this contract renewal. “With the economic picture looking uncertain, I am pleased we will continue working with MSC – a move which shows that the rail freight market is in good shape and will be needed more than ever as we begin the road back to recovery.” With proven records of ability to adapt to fast-paced, changing economic and market climates, both GBRf and MSC will be further supporting their customers’ supply chains with increased stability, flexibility and sustainability. GBRf &MSC UK drive sustainability with new 5-year rail deal GB Railfreight (GBRf ) has completed two major upgrade projects funded by Network Rail worth over £1.5million, aimed at improving vital Local Distribution Centres (LDCs) in Eastleigh and Bescot. Both LDCs act as focal points for the shunting, marshalling and preparation of trains needed to support vital engineering works carried out by Network Rail. The work on Eastleigh LDC, in Hampshire, has been two years in the making with GBRf replacing old cabins with updated facilities that provide full recreational capability, offices for management, a meeting room, as well as a vantage point that overlooks the yard. Alongside this, GBRf undertook a car park overhaul, maximising the potential parking for those operating onsite. Staff officially relocated to the new facility on 1 June, moving from temporary accommodation which has been a welcome change. The West Midlands-based Bescot LDC has undergone a series of works to repair and renew underinvested and unsafe track at the site. The project included the removal of abandoned buildings, lighting upgrade works, installation of Armco crash barriers, new safe walking routes and safety steps and reinstatement of siding 1, which has been derelict for many years, by using recycled rail and sleepers. Backed by Network Rail Supply Chain Operations (SCO) and the Network Rail Freight Safety Improvement Fund, Bescot LDC has been hugely improved to prevent derailments. Mike Black, Supply Chain Services Director of Network Rail said: “Local distribution centres may not instinctively sound like the most critical part of running a railway, but they’re absolutely vital to maintaining and renewing the railway, and keeping our passengers and freight moving. “The improvements delivered at Eastleigh and Bescot are part of our wider strategy to modernise supply chain operations sites in order tomakeworking practices even safer andmore efficient while also improving performance.” DavidGolding, AssetDirectorofGBRailfreight, said:“Ourpartnership with Network Rail has seen the completion of both projects on time and within budget, providing the facilities needed to ensure the smooth running of LDCs, which are a vital part of our infrastructure system in the UK. This work will help to bring LDCs into the 21st Century, as we see demand for UK-wide possession and support services increase post-pandemic.” GBRf complete £1.5million upgrade to Eastleigh and Bescot LDCs for Network Rail TRUCK & TRAILER SOLUTIONS WELCOME TO ALLPORTS GROUP allportsgroup.co.uk