DP World’s innovative Modal Shift Programme in Southampton has successfully removed 64,300 truck journeys from UK roads and reduced carbon emissions by over 17,000 tonnes in its first year, making a significant contribution to more sustainable logistics in the country.
“The outstanding success of the Modal Shift Programme at Southampton in its first year is a testament to our commitment to providing customers with more choices for their supply chains. With this significant increase in rail freight volume, equivalent to the transfer of approximately 6 million road miles to rail, we are allowing more of our customers to explore the benefits of rail to the sustainability and resilience of their containerised supply chains. This achievement not only reflects our goal to become the most efficient and sustainable logistics provider in the UK but also illustrates DP World’s commitment to achieving net zero across our global operations by 2050,” stated John Trenchard, Vice President – Commercial & Supply Chain, DP World in the UK.
Launched in September 2023, the programme aims to enhance the commercial feasibility of rail transport for containers arriving at the port. Under the initiative, customers are incentivized for each container transported by rail from DP World Southampton to a railhead within a 140-mile radius.
Financed through a small charge on all inbound containers at the port, the programme has increased the share of rail freight at DP World Southampton from 21% to over 30%, with plans to reach 40% by 2026.
In its first year, the programme introduced four new rail freight services, expanding options for DP World customers with routes to Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands Gateway, and Doncaster.
Additionally, DP World launched a second rail service between its Southampton and London Gateway logistics hubs, doubling the rail freight capacity between two of the UK’s largest container ports. This expansion offers customers greater opportunities to reduce reliance on the UK’s congested road network, with the potential to eliminate up to one million road miles annually.
“We had not previously considered rail as an option for our import container routings at Southampton but following the introduction of the Modal Shift Programme, we are now increasingly using rail for our customer shipments. We have even changed our standard practice to help boost the uptake amongst our customers, offering both options for road-only movements but also rail/road alternatives from the outset,” commented Craig Barnes, Business Development Director, Supreme Freight Services.
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