The link, set up in cooperation with GB Railfreight, is a twice-daily rail service dedicated to IKEA's shipments brought on-board Containerships' vessels coming from the Baltic.

The service carries 56 boxes per day in two trips, outward journey from Doncaster to Teesport via Darlington and returning from Teesport through Yarm.

According to PD Ports, some 120 daily road movements are taken away from the UK roads thanks to the new setup, each of them 180 mile-long per vehicle round trip.

"To us delivery accuracy is of key importance. At the same time, we have a very ambitious decarbonising agenda and actively seek to reduce our environmental impact wherever possible. To shift from trucks to trains is one way of reducing the number of shipments and fuel used per shipment," Elisabeth Munck af Rosenschöld, Head of Sustainability, IKEA Transport & Logistics Services, commented.

Jari Lepistö, Chief Commercial Officer, Containerships, added, "Reliability and sustainability are core values for Containerships and its customers. We were looking for reliable partners to move large amounts of cargo with increased volumes coming from the Baltics in a sustainable way. We needed an effective daily plan to move containers to Doncaster when satisfying one of our major customers, IKEA Transport & Logistics Services' environmental targets."

Patti Burt, Key Accounts and Rail Development Manager, PD Ports, also said, "During the trial we have proven the concept; the operational capability works at both terminals which is a testament to the fantastic teamwork involved in the whole partnership. We look forward to a strong, ongoing relationship."

"This new intermodal service underlines the growing importance of rail freight in meeting the supply chain needs of leading global businesses. Rail freight offers the certainty and reliability required to support complex supply chains. At a time when business is under increasing pressure to improve their sustainability credentials, rail has the advantage of being significantly more environmentally friendly than road transport," John Smith, Managing Director, GB Railfreight, summed up.

Photo: PD Ports