New freight flows
THE growth of railfreight, despite the challenges thrown up by Covid, has been a notable plus point over the last year. Underlining this positive movement is the introduction of a new DB Cargoled international railfreight service between the UK and mainland Europe, conveying complete Toyota cars.
Following a series of successful trial runs, fully loaded trains carrying approximately 260 cars are now operating twice a week between a new, £2.6 million, 4.25acre, automotive transfer facility at DB Cargo UK’s Toton depot and Valenciennes in Northern France. Distributor Groupe CAT has invested £3 million in refurbishing 40 TALT8000 (60m) and TALT489 (30m) car carrier wagons which had been standing out of use. Over 800 metres of new track, split into two dedicated un/ loading roads, has been laid alongside the extensive storage facility at Toton.
The service, which is divided into two sections for un/loading, before the train locomotive moves clear, brings Aygo, Yaris and Yaris+ cars into the UK and takes Derby-built hybrid Corollas out to mainland Europe.
The trains are expected to reduce annual carbon emissions by 2300 tonnes. The service is scheduled to grow to three or more trains per week this summer and the mainland European leg will be extended to Kolin in the Czech Republic. Transit times from Toton to Valenciennes are around 25 hours and 60 hours to Kolin. The six-year contract sees completed cars transiting the Channel Tunnel for the first time in more than a decade.