EUROPE: DB Cargo UK has launched a rail service transporting Corolla hybrid cars manufactured at Toyota’s Derby plant in the UK to Valenciennes in France via the Channel Tunnel, returning with Aygo, Yaris and Yaris+ vehicles.
‘This project is the culmination of four years of work from conception through to implementation’, said Steve Reynolds, Managing Director of the STVA UK subsidiary of vehicle logistics company Groupe CAT, on February 22. ‘We have signed a long-term lease with DB Cargo UK for the Toton rail terminal and have invested more than £3m to refurbish our wagons.’
As part of the project, contractor Britcon (UK) Ltd has built a £2.6m transfer facility at Toton.
The trains carry approximately 260 vehicles, equivalent to 29 transporter lorries, and run twice a week. The journey used to take five days by road; this has been cut to 24 h by train, and carbon emissions reduced by 2 300 tonnes/year.
