Norfolkline's Intermodal services between the UK & Italy sets unprecedented reliability standards

The Hague, October 9th 2009

Norfolkline's UK – Italy intermodal service between Hams Hall (Birmingham, UK) and Novara (Italy) has set unprecedented reliabilities levels, achieving a 100% performance for on time arrivals during the entire 3rd quarter of 2009.

The intermodal service works by first loading goods on swap body trailers at the customers premises, then transporting the swap body trailers by road to our train terminals so that they can be shipped by train. On arrival at the destination terminal the swap body trailers are then transported by road to deliver the goods.

By using rail to cover the longer distances, Norfolkline can thus offer transportation solutions that avoid the ever increasing congestion on the European road network, and lower its customer's environmental footprint.

Previously the intermodal service between the UK and Italy had been plagued by reliability issues, with performance levels averaging around 60%. This lack of reliability has been a major factor in the low utilisation of intermodal solutions for the transport of goods between UK and the continent.

However, since Norfolkline awarded the traction contract for its direct trains between Hams Hall (Birmingham, UK) and Novara (Italy) to Freight Europe in June 2009 there has been a rapid improvement in reliability.

Graham Stephen, UK Intermodal General Manager for Norfolkline commented on this succes: 

“Reliability issues have dissuaded a lot of shippers from using intermodal services in the past, and we are very pleased with the improvements achieved in the last three months and look forward to attracting more freight onto rail.”

Find out more

For further information about Norfolkline's intermodal service between the UK and Italy please contact Graham Stephen (UK Intermodal General Manager) on +44 (0) 1394 603620 or by email at gstephen@norfolkline.com.