Maritime Transport has launched two new intermodal rail services linking DP World London Gateway with its inland terminals at Hams Hall and iPort Doncaster. The services, operated in partnership with GB Railfreight, run from Monday to Saturday and commenced last week.
The launch comes amid rising container volumes at London Gateway, where a £1 billion expansion project is due to begin this month to increase the port’s capacity. Maritime Transport said the new rail routes are part of its broader effort to improve inland connectivity and support modal shift from road to rail.
John Bailey, Managing Director, Intermodal at Maritime Transport, said the growing role of London Gateway in the Asia–Europe network and increasing throughput at the port are driving demand for additional inland capacity.
“These new rail services provide the additional capacity needed to support that growth, enhance our national network, and enable a more meaningful shift from road to rail as part of a lower-carbon, more efficient UK supply chain,” he said.
Further intermodal connections are also in development, including services from Felixstowe to Manchester, DP World London Gateway to the East Midlands, and Southampton to SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton. The latter terminal is the most recent addition to Maritime’s rail network and is now fully integrated into the national rail system.
Julie Garn, Intermodal Director at GB Railfreight, highlighted the environmental impact of rail transport:
“Using rail freight reduces carbon emissions by approximately 76% compared to road.” She added that the new services reflect the potential of long-term collaboration to deliver lower-carbon alternatives within the supply chain.
The new services form part of a wider industry push to decarbonise freight transport and improve resilience across the UK’s logistics network.
