Container Transport Archives

Second Daily Rail Freight Service from Felixstowe Port

Posted on 5 August, 202429 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Stobart Ports, a British logistics supply partner for container transport, announces the commencement of a second daily train service between the Port of Felixstowe and Widnes. This new service, launched in partnership with GB Railfreight, comes as a response to the substantial demand following the initial service’s success since October 2023.

Stobart Ports will now operate an additional five trains weekly, elevating the total number of services between Felixstowe and Widnes to eleven per week. This enhancement underscores Stobart Ports’ commitment to sustainable transport solutions and operational efficiency. By introducing this new service, approximately 500 HGV movements will be removed from the UK’s road network each week, significantly alleviating congestion and enhancing road safety.

“Rail reduces carbon emissions by up to 76% compared to road transport, which is why we continue to invest heavily in rail logistics,” said Sean French, Managing Director of Stobart Ports, “This year alone, Stobart Ports have moved over 100,000 containers by rail, cutting road miles and saving around 20,000 tonnes of CO2. Our ongoing investment in rail not only maintains our leadership in UK rail logistics but also supports our environmental goals.”

The Widnes site, which is ETSF and AFSO accredited, offers comprehensive final mile and storage solutions, further complementing the rail services. The strategic location and state-of-the-art facilities ensure that Stobart Ports can provide unparalleled service to its customers, fostering the modal switch to rail.

“We are delighted to accept another GB Railfreight service from the Port of Felixstowe into Stobart Ports Widnes,” added French, “This expansion enhances our rail schedule to over 50 rail services per week, demonstrating our dedication to providing efficient and eco-friendly logistics solutions.”

Julie Garn, Head of Intermodal at GB Railfreight, commented, “We’re delighted to introduce this new service with Stobart, effectively doubling the volume we transport between Felixstowe and Widnes. Having already moved 100k boxes in and out of the Port of Felixstowe in 2024, we aim to double this figure by year’s end.”

The partnership between Stobart Ports and GB Railfreight highlights a shared vision of growth and sustainability. As the logistics industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint, the expansion of rail services stands out as a critical solution. The benefits of this expanded service extend beyond environmental gains. The reduction in road traffic contributes to safer roads and reduced wear and tear on infrastructure, which is advantageous for communities and local governments. Additionally, by enhancing connectivity and efficiency in freight transport, Stobart Ports supports the broader economic landscape, facilitating smoother trade and commerce.

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Perfect 10 for Haulage Alliance

Posted on 1 July, 202429 July, 2025 by David Priestman

A haulage alliance between Davies Turner and D.Perfect & Sons, that is celebrating its tenth anniversary, is proving to be a wise and mutually beneficial deal for both parties.

Recognised as one of the UK’s leading independent freight forwarding and logistics companies, Davies Turner said the alliance with D.Perfect & Sons, which specialises in general haulage and container transport, provides it with a dedicated HGV fleet to move consol containers between its regional distribution centre in Dartford and the ports of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton.

With the domestic and international haulage market still in a difficult situation, with issues over a lack of drivers, port congestion; and forward bookings, this alliance is providing surety of service for Davies Turner’s international ocean freight import and export consol services.

Tony Cole, director of Davies Turner & Co Ltd, and head of the company’s ocean freight operations says: “We find that merchant haulage, which our alliance with D.Perfect & Sons offers, enables us to book haulage in advance and guarantees that the tractor unit will be available when and where we want it. It helps us to secure timely transport of our clients’ consol containers, enabling us to deliver the flexibility, timeliness and reliability that they require.”

Freight partnership

Dave Perfect, managing director of D.Perfect & Sons, added: “Davies Turner is one of our largest customers and an excellent partner. It is really pleasing that our relationship continues to develop and grow. To mark our ten-year working relationship we have recently had one of our Volvo FH5 tractor units that we have added to our fleet sign written with Davies Turner’s corporate livery.”

Cole concludes: “Davies Turner places great value on long term alliances and partnerships, and believes that an alliance like that with D.Perfect & Sons helps to differentiate it from many of its peers in the freight and logistics sector.”

European Hauliers Form the Route To Space Alliance

Electric Trucks used for Container Transport

Posted on 17 January, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Skaraslättens Transport is Sweden’s biggest provider of container transport on the roads, hauling 850-900 containers daily to all Swedish container ports. The lion share goes to the Port of Gothenburg, and today the haulage company deployed two electric trucks on container flows to the port – with a third truck joining them shortly.

“We don’t want to be standing on the side-line when the transition takes place – we want to be leading the way, and we’re also seeing our customers increasingly requesting sustainable transport operations. With that in mind, this was a pretty easy decision to make,” says Johan Söderström, CCO at Skaraslättens Transport.

Climate-smart – but an economic challenge

Even though electrical power is a superior alternative with regard to the carbon footprint, it is not an investment to be made without meticulous planning. Heavy electric trucks have different properties and are relatively expensive compared with their fossil equivalents.

“Economically, it’s a challenge, and it’s an investment with a longer payback time. So customers that want to use our electric trucks for their transport needs are urged to sign longer agreements with us, which is something we find that they understand. People are prepared to take a broader view and think outside the box,” says Johan Söderström.

The new vehicles do of course also have limitations in terms of their range. It’s a matter of finding the right flows and transport patterns, close to easily accessible charging infrastructure. During the night, the vehicles will be charged at the port’s vehicle terminal, which is operated by Logent Ports & Terminals.

The Port of Gothenburg also has public charging facilities already available in the middle of the port. Cirkle K’s station at Vädermotet has six chargers for heavy trucks each with charging power of 360 kW. In 2023, additional public charging stations will become available in the central areas of the port.

“It provides peace of mind to have public charging in the port, to supplement our depot-based charging. We’ll probably need to have some top-up charging capacity, but it’s difficult to say how much right now. There’s only one way to find out exactly how it’s going to work in practice, and that’s to dive in and give it a go. We’re now really full of anticipation, and it will be great to be able to show Gothenburg our new vehicles,” says Johan Söderström.

Launch pad for broader development

Skaraslättens’ three electric trucks represent an important milestone for the Port of Gothenburg, yet at the same time they are just the beginning of a development that will accelerate during 2023, with more haulage companies and freight forwarders preparing to deploy electric heavy trucks. DFDS is one example, as they will be deploying many of the more than 120 electric heavy trucks they have on order in flows at the Port of Gothenburg later this year. This is a rapid development, which the Gothenburg Port Authority welcomes and wants to continue to support.

“It’s really great to see the transition happening here and now. From the port’s perspective, it’s important that we continue to lower the thresholds for those wanting to make the transition to a climate-smarter transport system,” says Elvir Dzanic, CEO at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

2021 year saw the launch of the Tranzero Initiative project to increase the rate of transition in the transport sector, with a special focus on land-based transport to and from the port. The project is a collaboration between the Gothenburg Port Authority, the Volvo Group, Scania and Stena Line. In 2023, additional charging infrastructure will be available, and two hydrogen stations are to be built for heavy trucks. Electric heavy trucks already have priority in many port terminals, and additional Tranzero Initiatives are being prepared at the port to offer greater incentives and speed up the transition.

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