UK-based Maritime Transport Ltd. Has launched a new intermodal service with P&O Ferries to connect Tilbury2 with Manchester.
The service commenced on July 4 and connects Tilbury2 on the Thames east of London to the newly-refurbished Trafford Park Euroterminal in Manchester.
Maritime Transport has partnered with embattled UK ferry operator P&O Ferries for the new service. P&O Ferries attracted widespread negative press and condemnation from the UK government after sacking 800 of its seafarers to replace them with cheaper agency labour.
The Tilbury to Manchester service runs five days per week from Monday to Friday, and can move 45′ pallet-wide, 40′, and 20′ deep-sea containers, carrying up to 80 teu in each direction.
Maritime Transport said the new service will help cut CO2 emissions by removing over 20,000 lorries from UK roads per year.
John Bailey, Managing Director – Intermodal and Terminals, Maritime Transport: ‘We are very proud to be working with Forth Ports & P&O Ferries and to see the beginning of our Tilbury – Trafford Park service, demonstrating our drive to engineer even more rail freight solutions for the market, and our hands-on approach to reducing not just our own carbon footprint, but that of our customers. Rail is the key to decarbonisation and we will continue to support modal shift by increasing the proportion of freight transported by rail.’
The service connects two new terminals – Maritime recently completed a £13.5m, two-year redevelopment scheme at Trafford Park Euroterminal, and Tilbury2 was opened in January 2022
Thorsten Runge, Managing Director – Freight Services, P&O Ferries: “We are delighted to be hosting a direct rail link from Tilbury2 which will further increase options for importers and exporters. We are determined to make P&O Ferries the best ferry company in Europe – the best ships, the best routes, and the best value for freight customers – and providing vitally important trade routes for UK exporters and trading partners is central to our aim of making trade flow.”
Source: Seatrade Maritime News
