Maritime Transport Ltd. (Maritime), the UK’s fastest-growing intermodal transport operator, is celebrating the first anniversary of its Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at East Midlands Gateway (EMG).
Located within SEGRO’s 700-acre development adjacent to East Midlands Airport, the 17-acre open-access terminal, capable of handling up to sixteen 775metre-long freight trains daily with storage capacity for over 4,000TEU, is the first to connect to the Castle Donington freight line, providing direct access to the UK’s network of rail freight interchanges and all major UK Ports.
Following its official opening in March 2020 in a ceremony led by Rail Minister, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, EMG has seen substantial growth, and to date, operates six daily services including three to the Port of Felixstowe hauled by DB Cargo UK and Freightliner, one to DP World London Gateway operated by DB Cargo UK, and two services to the ports of Southampton and Liverpool hauled by GB Railfreight.
Planning is underway to bring more services to EMG throughout 2021 connecting more of the UK.
To service these trains, Maritime has invested significantly in all-new top specification container handling equipment at the terminal, consisting of five loaded reach stackers and two empty container handlers to ensure industry-leading turnaround times.
In a year where online demand has risen due to lockdowns and restrictions closing many non-essential shops, Maritime now sees an average 10,000 containers move through EMG each month, supported by more than 100 vehicles operating every 24 hours to keep consumer goods flowing across the UK and the rest of the world.
‘East Midlands Gateway is an astounding success, and we are immensely proud of the milestones we have achieved in our first year of operating the terminal which really highlights the commitment and dedication of our drivers and staff,’ said John Bailey, Managing Director – Intermodal and Terminals at Maritime. ‘It’s location, and unrivalled connectivity and facilities make it an ideal choice for businesses in the region and beyond, and we are confident that, with the increasing need for intermodal transport in the UK due to its cost-efficiency and green credentials, EMG will continue to grow.
He added: ‘We will continue pursuing our expansion ambitions to further solidify EMG’s status as the country’s most integral rail terminal, and look forward to supporting businesses across the nation.’
EMG will eventually host a three-storey, 20,000 sq. ft. headquarters currently under construction for Maritime’s intermodal division, to house operational teams, state-of-the-art training facilities, and parking for a fleet of up to 100 trucks.
Maritime has extended its rail offering for its growing customer base since its move into the intermodal market back in April 2019, and now operates or has contractual commitment on the following services:
• Felixstowe to EMG (x3)
• Felixstowe to Doncaster iPort
• Felixstowe to Hams Hall
• Felixstowe to Wakefield (x2)
• Felixstowe to BIFT (Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal) (x2)
• Felixstowe to Trafford Park
• London Gateway to Wakefield
• London Gateway to Trafford Park
• London Gateway to EMG
• Southampton to BIFT (x2)
• Southampton to Wakefield
• Southampton to Trafford Park
• Southampton to EMG