GB Railfreight delivers Maersk containers from Port of Felixstowe to hinterland
Denmark-headquartered global shipping line Maersk is extending its hinterland logistics in Britain. The Danish company has established a partnership with GB Railfreight, UK’s major rail freight operator that will deliver containers from the Port of Felixstowe to the outskirts of Sheffield.
On Monday, 10 May, GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Maersk reported on the two-year deal in arranging joint intermodal services from the Port of Felixstowe to the Tinsley terminal close to Sheffield. It is the first cooperation between the companies. GBRf will deliver Maersk containers five times a week by using, inter alia, five new Ecofret2 flat wagons, which were recently purchased from VTG Rail UK.
John Smith, GBRf’s managing director, called the two-year deal “the beginning of a great relationship” as his company is interested in extending the rail freight connections across Britain. This is in line with the policy of the Danish shipping line. “Maersk´s ultimate aim is offering our customers reliable options that streamline their supply chains. As a provider of logistic services, rail is key for us to increase supply chain flexibility for our customers. We will continue to strength our reliability in the UK,” Jeremy Haycock from Maersk added.
Tinsley terminal
The intermodal terminal in Tinsley is run by Newell & Wright, a British road haulage and freight forwarding company. It is located at the site of the abandoned marshalling yard. Newell & Wright restored the facility earlier this year and converted it into the container terminal. “This is just the start of a huge investment into rail freight, we plan to start phase 2 of the development, increasing capacity and job opportunities in the area,” the company founder, Frank Newell, said.
GBRf has been cooperating with Newell & Wright for many years, and the new intermodal service will intensify this relationship. “We look forward to strengthening our ties over the course of the next two years,” John Smith from GB Railfreight commented.
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