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Maersk to launch Spain/UK reefer rail route

[ October 4, 2022   //   ]

AP Moller Maersk’s intra-European logistics arm Sealand is launching a temperature-controlled rail service from Spain to the UK for temperature sensitive cargo including fruit and vegetables. There will initially be three weekly departures from Valencia to Barking in East London. The trains will carry also non-refrigerated cargo from the UK back to Spain.

The launch follows trials in September and regular departures will start at the end of October, in time for the Spanish peak season for fruit and vegetable exports.

Area managing director France, Iberia and Maghreb, Diego Perdones Montero

 Said: “Our new product solves several challenges that our reefer customers in Spain are faced with when exporting: Firstly, many large retailers want to reduce the carbon footprint of the products they sell. Secondly, we have a prevailing shortage of truck drivers, which means that currently cross-border road transport is often limited and unreliable. Thirdly, capacity and quality of the major roads are limited which leads to congestion.

“Our rail transport makes Spanish exporters independent from the driver shortage as well as road bottlenecks, and offers more than 90% lower CO2 emissions than a truck on the road.”

He said that more destinations could follow, he adds, including integrated ocean and rail solutions: “Big customers – importers, growers and retailers alike – are operating with both, ocean and land-based cargo flows. By offering them our reliable landside distribution network via rail we will help to create faster, greener and more efficient routes regardless of the origin and destination of the sensitive cargo.”

Among the additional logistics services available from Maersk is its Captain Peter technology that gives information on the condition of the cargo inside reefer containers throughout their journeys.

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