The 32nd daily rail freight service has been introduced at the UK’s largest container port. Operated by Freightliner, the new service runs between the Port of Felixstowe and Rotherham initially, and ultimately will run to Doncaster upon completion of works at the site.

Commenting on the new service, Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Felixstowe and Managing Director of HPH Europe division, said:

“We are delighted to be able to offer an additional rail option with the start of the 32nd daily rail service from the Port of Felixstowe. We have invested heavily in rail infrastructure at the port in recent years which has supported continued strong growth in sustainable transport.

“In 2015 we handled 936,000 TEU by rail which saved well over 100 million road miles by HGVs. Since then we have continued to break rail throughput records and this new service will help us achieve even greater environmental savings.”

Adam Cunliffe, Managing Director of Freightliner, added:

“This new Freightliner service will create much needed additional rail freight capacity to meet the growing demands of customers who are looking for a faster, greener, safer and more efficient means of transporting freight over land. It is also another milestone in the Port of Felixstowe’s strategy to increase freight on rail, not only by running additional services, but by lengthening the existing trains.”

In the second week of May the port broke its own record for the number of containers handled by rail in a single day when 2,607 containers (4,185 TEU) were handled at its three rail terminals. The previous record of 2,505 containers was set in October 2015.

The new daily service departs from the port’s Central Rail Terminal at 01:48 hours with inbound service from Rotherham arriving at 20:38 hours.

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Notes to Editors:

For further information, please contact Paul Davey, Head of Corporate Affairs, on Tel No: +44 (0)1394 602063 or E-mail daveyps@hpuk.co.uk / www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk

Port of Felixstowe (PFL) is strategically located on the UK’s southeast coast and within easy reach of major ports in northwest Europe. As Britain’s busiest container port and one of the largest in Europe, over 40 percent of the UK’s containerised trade passes through the Port.

PFL is a member of Hutchison Port Holdings Limited (HPH), the port and related services division of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (CK Hutchison). HPH is the world’s leading port investor, developer and operator with a network of port operations comprising 269 berths in 48 ports, spanning 25 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Over the years, HPH has expanded into other logistics and transportation-related businesses, including cruise ship terminals, airport operations, distribution centres, rail services and ship repair facilities.