GB Railfreight (GBRf) has extended its long-term collaboration with Maritime Transport, introducing two new intermodal rail services between DP World London Gateway and inland terminals at Hams Hall and iPort Doncaster.
The new weekday and Saturday services, launched last week, are designed to accommodate rising container volumes at London Gateway. This growth coincides with the commencement of a major £1 billion expansion project at the port, aimed at increasing capacity and enhancing its role within the UK’s logistics infrastructure.
The additional services reinforce Maritime Transport’s ongoing investment in rail freight, targeting improved inland connectivity and supporting a modal shift from road to rail across critical domestic freight corridors.
Julie Garn, Intermodal Director at GB Railfreight, emphasised the environmental and logistical benefits of the rail sector: “Rail plays a hugely important role in our national supply chains. In addition to driving our economy, moving goods by rail reduces emissions and supports the UK’s transition to more sustainable transport. Using rail freight reduces carbon emissions by approximately 76% compared to road.”
Maritime Transport’s Managing Director – Intermodal, John Bailey, added that London Gateway’s increasing role in international trade, particularly through the Gemini Cooperation’s Asia–Europe network, underscores the need for robust inland connections. “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.
The services exemplify how sustained collaboration between freight operators can deliver scalable, lower-carbon transport solutions that align with the UK’s wider environmental and logistics objectives.
