Logistics Business Publishing

Established since 1989, world leader and experts in our industry, the CoGri Group of companies is a consortium of international specialists that collectively offers a complete package solution to the upgrading, repair and enhancement of industrial floors, particularly in floor flatness in narrow aisles. Group companies include Concrete Grinding Ltd, Face Consultants Ltd and CG Flooring Systems Ltd.

Print Article

Stobart Group pioneers the first fully refrigerated train service from Spain

STOBART GROUP PIONEERS LOWER CARBON FRESH ‘FRUIT AND VEG’ WITH THE ARRIVAL IN THE UK OF THE FIRST FULLY REFRIGERATED TRAIN SERVICE FROM SPAIN

London, England 30 October 2009 – At 00.00am today history was made when the new Stobart Rail train service exited Eurotunnel and arrived in Britain on schedule after a 1,100 mile journey from Valencia. The new weekly service, in conjunction with rail operator DB Schenker, provides for the first time a low carbon alternative for retailers and consumers, for the import of fresh Spanish produce.

The pioneering rail service from Valencia to the Ford Dagenham railhead features a number of firsts in the industry and generates significant environmental savings over the normal route to market by road:

Key facts on the new Stobart Rail, Valencia to Dagenham Service:

  • Longest train journey in Europe by a single operator
  • First fully refrigerated train service to go through Eurotunnel>
  • Reduction of 13.7 million kilometres of road journeys per year
  • Reduction in CO2 emissions of 8,625 tonnes annually
  • Faster journey time than by road with corresponding improvement in produce “shelf life”
  • Each refrigerated container is monitored remotely by Stobart from “pack-house to customer” to ensure the temperature is precisely controlled and the produce arrives on time and in optimum condition
  • For the first time retailers and consumers have a faster and lower carbon alternative for the import of “fruit and veg” from Spain
On the return journey to Spain the train will be full of pallets being carried for CHEP, ensuring there is not an empty journey. This is consistent with Stobart Group’s philosophy to take waste out of the supply chain at every level. It is the same philosophy that enables the Eddie Stobart truck fleet to run with full loads 84 per cent of the time compared to the industry average of 70 per cent.

“We believe this service represents a real breakthrough. For the first time, supermarkets and consumers have a quicker and much lower carbon alternative to importing fresh fruit and veg from Spain by road,” said Andrew Tinkler, CEO of Stobart Group.

He added: “In conjunction with our partner DB Schenker, we will start the new service with one train per week but we believe that when our customers see the benefits we will soon be able to develop this into a daily service, increasing the efficiencies and environmental benefits by a factor of five.”

William Stobart, COO of Stobart Group, added: “We are also actively investigating the opportunity to extend the train service from the current terminal in Dagenham through the UK to our multi-modal terminal at Widnes, which is the ideal hub for distribution into the heartland of the UK.

“An extension of the train to this facility would take even more trucks off Britain’s crowded road network and make the total carbon saving for the transport of oranges, lemons and other Spanish fruit and veg even greater. At Widnes we also have extensive chilled warehouse and distribution facilities, adding further synergies and all part of our multi modal logistics offering to Stobart customers,” he said.

The Stobart Group, which is perhaps best known for its iconic Eddie Stobart truck fleet, complete with its own spotters and supporters club, is rapidly becoming the UK’s leading provider of multimodal logistics solutions with integrated road, rail, sea and air businesses. This ground breaking new rail service builds on recent announcements by Stobart Group which have seen innovations in modal shift in the UK from road to rail and numerous schemes to reduce waste and emissions in all aspects of the supply chain.

www.eddiestobart.co.uk



October 2010 - Saudi Transtec
Supported by the Ministry of Transport, Saudi TransTec will showcase Industries such as Freight, Shipping, Aviation, Ports, Cargo, Express, Railways, Material Handling Equipment & System Providers as well as Supply Chain and Logistics, providing the Eastern Province with an essential networking and business forum for the Transport and Logistics sector!


November 2010 - Eindhoven, 10th - 11th
It is with justified pride that Bureau Bosman BV is introducing Groothandel & Logistiek’s new trade show name. From now on, Groothandel & Logistiek will be called: Bedrijf en Logistiek, the trade show for goods-in, storage and goods-out. The eleventh edition will take place on November 10 and 11 in the Exhibition Building in Eindhoven.  


November 2010 - Birmingham, 16th - 19th
Quartz Publishing & Exhibitions Ltd, organiser of the International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX), has announced that – in response to exhibitor requests – the show’s dates have moved from March to November next year.


November 2010 - Intermodal Europe 2010, Amsterdam, 30th November - 2nd December
The Intermodal Europe event returns to Amsterdam with a revitalised new programme that will ensure a balanced focus on all areas of intermodalism from containers through to road, rail and maritime logistics.


September 2011 - Material Handling Middle East, 25th to 27th
Delivering results since 2001, Materials Handling Middle East will be held next year from September 25 to 27 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, UAE.


Crisplant - Witt-Gruppe Distribution Centre
The new centre is part of the Witt-Gruppe’s Vision 2020 through which it plans to position itself as the most profitable Europe-wide group of retailers in the 50plus market whilst achieving a 50 % reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020.

Coca-cola, Amatil
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has been located in Northmead for more than 30 years and over this time, has experienced high levels of continuous growth. The Northmead plant manufactures 60 million unit cases of soft drinks per year, producing product in cans at 2,000 per minute and PET bottles at 600 per minute.

The letter of the law
Corinna Hardt tells Logistics Business why an increasing number of companies in the field of postal services and logistics maximise their profits with the help of automated weighing systems.

Pilot scheme success
Preventing accidents is a top priority in all areas of the logistics sector. When utmost importance is attached to safety, specialists have to be called in order to help prevent accidents.

Extending reach and life
Add-ons and customisation are two aftermarket services that greatly benefit the forklift truck. Logistics Business catches up with news and innovations from this highly competitive market sector.

TVH makes a smart move
It’s always nice to report a happy ending, even in harsh economic times for the materials handling industry. Read how two Logistics Business customers recently teamed-up to facilitate a state-of-the-art distribution facility for forklift truck parts.


© 2010 Logistics Business Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
In Partnership with Logistics Business IT Magazine & Transport Distribution Europe TM