Leaders of Hutchison Ports - the firm that runs the busy Port of Felixstowe - have hailed the launch of new rail freight services in the area.

As of today (July 24th), Freightliner will provide trains from the Suffolk import/export hub to Doncaster in Yorkshire. 

Speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times, Hutchison Ports chief executive Clemence Cheng said this will add to the already impressive array of cargo trains on offer at the port.

"The latest service from Freightliner brings to 60 the number of freight train movements we handle each day," he was quoted as saying.

Mr Cheng added the new route will take the equivalent of 1.75 million HGV miles off the roads each year.

This will no doubt be music to the government's ears, as it is desperate to promote rail freight as a more eco-friendly alternative to road haulage. With hugely ambitious carbon emission reduction targets to meet by 2050, it would be no surprise to see the authorities launching numerous rail cargo schemes in the near future.