DP World Southampton to rail high-cube boxes by April

DP WORLD SOUTHAMPTON has confirmed that the railway clearance project between Southampton and the Midlands of central England will be ready to accommodate high-cube containers on standard British rail cars by the end of March.

The project involves 52 locations between Southampton and Nuneaton, 40 miles west north west of Birmingham, that includes the reconstruction of bridges, lowering of track and modifications to a number of chassis. At present, special low-bed wagons are required to pass under some of the bridges, however, they are expensive and in short supply.

Once the project has been completed, standard rail cars will be able to use the line up to Nuneaton, and then onto the West Coast Main Line to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, reports London's Containerisation International.

It said DP World Southampton aims to raise a charge of GBP3 (US$4.76) per full import container to cover its share of the cost of the project. Exports and empties will be exempt, and all imports will be charged, regardless of the mode of transport chosen.

The charge will be made to the clearing agent who makes the customs declaration or removal request. The clearing agent will then be credited GBP0.25 for each GBP3 charge to cover administrative costs. The charge will only commence once the rail gauge clearance has been completed, and will remain in place until the investment has been recovered.

Said a Freightliner spokesman: "We would hope that the ability to move high-cube containers on standard wagons will enable us to increase our overall market share to around 30 per cent."
(Source:www.schednet.com)