News

Wincanton is to provide a rail service between the Midlands and Scotland for Britvic, in partnership with Malcolm Logistics.

The UK's second-largest haulier joins the Stobart Group in a modal switch to rail in order to reduce costs and carbon emissions.

Wincanton will transport drinks brands such as Robinsons, Pepsi, Tango, J2O, Drench Water and Fruit Shoot from production sites at Norwich, Beckton, Rugby, Widford, Leeds and Huddersfield by road to a rail depot at Daventry.

Once there, Malcolm Logistics will transport the goods by train to Grangemouth and Mossend, and ensure that the return rail trips are fully filled with products.

The companies expect the rail service to take about 50 truck loads off the road per day, as well as reduce CO2 emissions by 3,285 tonnes a year.

Gordon Scott, managing director, manufacturing, at Wincanton says: "Working together, we're able to utilise all of the space on the train in both directions, delivering both environmental and cost benefits.

"This solution is a great example of how three companies working collaboratively are able to make a greater impact on carbon reduction than when working alone."

Britvic UK logistics director Clive Hooper adds: "This rail  project enables us to reduce fuel needs and deliver carbon savings and is exactly the sort of development we are committed to making."

Last month, the first Stobart Rail temperature-controlled fruit and veg train from Valencia arrived in the UK, helping Stobart Group take 30 trucks off the roads.

The 60-hour, 1,100-mile journey, in conjunction with fellow road and rail operator DB Schenker, arrived at the Ford Dagenham railhead with 30 containers - the equivalent to 30 truck loads.

Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler says the service represents a real breakthrough. He adds: "For the first time, supermarkets and consumers have a quicker and much lower carbon alternative to importing fresh fruit and veg from Spain by road."

The modal switch improved efficiencies and environmental benefits by a factor of five, he reveals.

Stobart Group claims the service cuts 13.7 million kilometres of truck journeys. The long-term plan is to move the trains' destination to Widnes, where the Stobart Group has built a new cold store.

Stobart Group COO William Stobart says the company is "actively investigating the opportunity".

He continues: "An extension of the train to this facility would take even more trucks off Britain's crowded road network and make the total carbon saving for the transport of oranges, lemons and other Spanish fruit and veg even greater."

Roadtransport.com first reported Stobart trials for the "rail fruit" service in June this year.