DP World in the UK has announced that its two deep-water ports at Southampton and London Gateway became the first in the country capable of handling Freightliner’s new 775 metre intermodal container trains - further cementing the critical role of the smart logistics hubs in Britain’s international supply chain.

The longest in use on the national rail network, the new 775 metre trains are 250 metres longer than a typical freight train and carry between 12 and 14 additional containers on each service, generating significant cost and environmental benefits for customers transporting goods to and from the ports.

The trains - which are the length of more than seven football pitches - depart the freight rail terminals at Southampton and London Gateway every working day of the week to Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds respectively carrying a range of goods.

Ernst Schulze, Chief Executive of DP World in the UK, said, “I am delighted that our customers at both Southampton and London Gateway will be the first in the country to benefit from the increased productivity and efficiency of these new 775 metre trains. Both ports already have a high degree of rail interconnectivity, with Southampton having the highest proportion of containers moved by train in the UK at more than 30 per cent and London Gateway aiming to achieve similar levels.”

He said, “The emphasis on rail across both ports takes 300,000 trucks off UK roads each year, bringing significant environmental benefits and we expect this number to continue to grow. Our aim is to be a partner in our customers’ business success, providing fast, reliable and flexible links to international supply chains and markets.” He added, “We very much welcome the capability to run 775 metre services from DP World’s deep-water ports at Southampton and London Gateway,” said Eddie Aston, Chief Executive Officer for Freightliner and parent company Genesee & Wyoming’s UK/Europe Region. “Running container train services at 775 metres not only improves the productivity and efficiency of rail freight but has significant environmental gains. The three daily roundtrip 775 metre intermodal trains that Freightliner is currently running from the Port of Southampton are collectively saving over four million road miles and 9,500 tonnes of carbon emissions (CO2e) per year, further contributing to the government’s commitment to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.”

Earlier this year the Government awarded freeport status to DP World Southampton (as part of Solent Freeport) and DP World London Gateway (as part of Thames Freeport), positioning the two smart logistics hubs to continue supporting regional growth across ports, warehousing and manufacturing for decades to come.

DP World, UAE Region, the leading smart trade enabler, and Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO), recently announced plans to expand their ongoing energy efficiency collaboration into renewable solar power installations across DP World’s assets in the UAE.

The MoU provides a framework to facilitate existing collaboration to cover DP World, UAE Region’s changing requirements in line with its overarching energy efficiency and sustainability programmes. These include Energy Performance Contracting Projects, Solar On-Grid Installations, and IT Solutions and Technologies including Command and Control Centres, IoT, Smart Automation and Network Operations.

Separately, after revealing robust financial results for the year-end of 2020 and an encouraging start to 2021, DP World will turn a new page with a transition in management in the UAE. Abdulla Bin Damithan has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of DP World, UAE Region and Jafza. He takes the reins from Mohammed Al Muallem, who has been promoted to Executive Vice President of DP World. During his 20-year long career at DP World, Abdulla Bin Damithan has held leadership positions with increasing responsibilities, the most recent being Chief Commercial Officer for the UAE Region. As an accomplished leader in the maritime and logistics sector, he has led different aspects of the business to commercial success. This includes Ports & Terminals, Parks & Zones and Trade Enablement solutions. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DP World said: “DP World has been integral to Dubai’s economic success story, contributing more than a third of gross domestic product. Jebel Ali Port and Jafza account for nearly a quarter of all foreign direct investment into Dubai, and support 135,000 jobs. I am confident that the leadership of Abdulla Bin Damithan will take DP World, UAE Region to the next level of growth.

WAM