London Gateway welcomes first vessel MOL Caledon
DB Schenker Rail UK will take over track maintenance and rail operations at the state-of-the-art rail terminal at DP World London Gateway following the operational opening of the UK’s newest deep-water port on Wednesday 6 November.
Wednesday night saw the arrival of the first regular service, when the 4,900teu vessel MOL Caledon from South Africa berths at London Gateway with containers bound for destinations throughout the UK.
DB Schenker Rail UK will be responsible for controlling all rail movements and conducting safety checks at the rail terminal as well as providing dedicated ground staff services for rail freight operators using the facility, which is located alongside the new port container handling areas at London Gateway.
The new rail terminal is capable of handling the longest intermodal trains in the UK and can accommodate trains up to 35 wagons long, transporting deep-sea containers, European containers and swap bodies to UK domestic and continental European destinations.
Managing director logistics, DB Schenker Rail UK, Carsten Hinne said: “London Gateway offers excellent connectivity to the UK rail network and the continent, including direct links to the national network and access to main rail hubs in the Midlands, South Yorkshire and the North West.
“DB Schenker Rail UK was the first freight operating company to provide services out of London Gateway and Wednesday’s opening marks another important milestone for the company as we take over the track maintenance and rail operations at the terminal.
“With a third of London Gateway’s throughput expected to go by rail, DB Schenker Rail UK is committed to providing the right infrastructure and operational processes for all rail freight operators using this fantastic facility.
“Our state-of-the-art order management and planning IT system Anubis is already in place at London Gateway and we are now able to offer a streamlined process and visibility along the whole intermodal supply chain. Customers will find out how easy it is to do business with DB Schenker Rail.”