A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) has reached an agreement with BGRf, one of the largest rail freight operators in the UK, to operate a rail service from Felixstowe to Newell & Wright in Tinsley seven days of the week.
The carrier said the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit have put the Port of Felixstowe and supply chain operations under pressure, as has the obstruction of the Suez Canal in March 2021.
Jeremy Haycock, Managing Director for United Kingdom & Ireland at Maersk, said Maersk will now be able to offer “more reliable and flexible” end-to-end services to both local as well as global importers.
“Expanding our rail footprint from Felixstowe is key for us to increase supply chain flexibility for our customers through the current challenging times and help them addressing their individual specific logistics needs as the business condition and pandemic continue to evolve,” Haycock said.
“We want to help bringing capacity and reliability to this critical supply chain link.”
The new service will incorporate new eco-fret wagons from rail specialist VTG Aktiengesellschaft and containers which can be carried on a train, providing customers with “an eco-friendlier alternative to traditional wagons”.
John Smith, Managing Director at GB Railfreight, said, “I am delighted we have agreed this contract with Maersk. We are a growing organisation, always looking for the next opportunity and working with Maersk was an absolute no-brainer.
“We hope this is the beginning of a great relationship.”
