A new intermodal train service connecting DP World’s container terminals at London Gateway and Southampton will boost the resilience of the customers’ supply chains and enable them to switch volumes quickly and easily between the two UK locations.

The DP World operated service – which ran for the first-time last weekend – is scheduled every Saturday carrying cargo including fresh fruit, beverages and consumer goods in less than five hours. The train takes up to 120 lorries a week off the roads and cuts carbon emissions by up to 80%.

DP World plans to increase the frequency of the train next year. Alongside other recent and ongoing investments in rail connectivity at both ports, this will ease motorway congestion, with a total of 300,000 trucks taken off UK roads each year.

John Trenchard, UK Commercial & Supply Chain Director of DP World, said: “DP World is unique in offering customers a choice of deep-water entry and exit points to and from the UK. This new rail service will make it even easier for our customers to switch volumes quickly and easily between the two locations, which means greater flexibility and choice.”

“After the disruption of recent years, shipping lines and cargo owners are looking for capacity, reliability and growth opportunities. We are providing it, enabling customers to move goods smoothly and efficiently in and out of the UK and across their supply chains,” Trenchard added.

DP World – which operates ports, terminals and logistics businesses on six continents – runs the UK’s most advanced logistics hubs at London Gateway and Southampton: two deep water ports with access to freight rail terminals, and a rapidly expanding logistics park on the doorstep of the capital. Between them they moved a record volume of cargo in the first half of the year, with a combined total of 1.93m TEU.

Last month, DP World announced the start of construction at London Gateway’s new £350 million fourth berth, which will lift capacity by a third when it opens in 2024. The construction project is supporting 1,000 jobs and the port-centric logistics park will employ a further 12,000 people when it is completed in five years’ time.

The company has also earmarked a further £1 billion of investment in the UK over the next 10 years.

In line with its drive to enhance connectivity for customers, Pacific International Lines introduced the PIL Intermodal Services, which offers train, truck and barge services to complement its container shipping services. The PIL Intermodal Services are available across PIL’s existing network in Intra-Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Oceania.

The aim of the new intermodal services is to empower customers by providing them with more options of how they would like their cargoes to be transported. Customers can choose to save time and resources in managing their cargoes by entrusting PIL to provide transportation services from the points of origin to the final destinations, or they could opt to arrange their own last-mile transportation. PIL’s intermodal solutions are also highly customisable with dedicated train and barge services.

Mr Lars Kastrup, CEO, PIL, said, “We have seen growing market demand for intermodal services in recent years. With our strong network of global offices, agencies and partners, we are able to offer good point-to-point connectivity across sea and land for our customers. Our intermodal solutions will be well supported by our digital services including electronic Bill of Lading, and in the near future, GPS tracking. This solution is also aligned with our goal to reduce the overall carbon footprint of our operations and that of our customers.”

The PIL Intermodal Service is now available in Africa, Australia, Cambodia, Guatemala, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and China. PIL plans to roll out its intermodal service to other parts of the world in the near term.”

The Intermodal Marketplace of Port of Antwerp-Bruges took place and on the occasion of this event, there was a unique tour by train in the port area in Antwerp.

More than 500 participants

The Intermodal Marketplace of Port of Antwerp-Bruges took place in the Handelsbeurs in Antwerp. At this event, Port of Antwerp-Bruges brings together providers of transport by rail, barge and short-sea shipping with shipping companies, forwarders and shippers.

Fifty European rail, inland shipping and shortsea operators presented their offerings and European shippers, forwarders and logistics companies discovered the newest connections for their cargo. More than 500 participants were present.

During an interview, BASF and Caterpillar emphasized that the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is well equipped to receive all types of transport and goods. A smooth flow of cargo is important for a high-performance supply chain. That is why we are constantly expanding the range of our alternative modes of transport. Rail, inland shipping, shortsea and night logistics are the means of transport of the future. The involvement of all actors is a must for a sustainable supply chain.

Unique tour in the port area

On the occasion of this event, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Infrabel, NMBS and Lineas organized a unique tour by train in the port area in Antwerp. More than 300 participants were introduced to this aspect of the port in a unique way during a three-hour ‘rail experience’.

The train, which picked up participants in Bruges and Ghent, made a stop in Antwerp Central.

After the train ride, the participants went to the Intermodal Marketplace.