British rail freight operator Direct Rail Services is cleaning up in the aisles at Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket chain. The retailer and the rail operator have renewed their loyalty cards. They will work together until at least mid-2027. Tesco remains the most prominent retailer to use rail on a daily basis for the distribution of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) around Britain.
Direct Rail Services (DRS) has continued its long-standing partnership with the UK’s biggest supermarket chain. DRS, the rail division of Nuclear Transport Solutions, has signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with supermarket giant Tesco. The new deal means DRS will continue to supply rail operations as part of their established partnership.
Twelve years and not past its sell-by date
The vast supermarket chain has an equally large appetite for the goods to fill the shelves at stores and convenience outlets all over the UK. The company has been noted for over a decade, for using rail as its distribution backbone around Britain. The retailer has been increasing its reliance on rail, and recently launched a tenth route, connecting their central distribution hub at Daventry (in the Golden Triangle for logistics) with Widnes on Merseyside, midway between Manchester and Liverpool.
“Recently, we launched Tesco’s tenth rail freight service, removing thousands of lorries from the road and saving 6,000t CO2e per year,” said Gottfried Eymer, NTS Rail Director. “We’re very pleased to continue our long-standing work with Tesco, which has developed over the last twelve years, and demonstrates the fantastic service we provide our customers and the value rail freight can bring.”
ULCV by DRS, every month
The branded intermodal services, often known as the Tesco Trains, have become a familiar sight on the British network. That’s hardly surprising, given that DRS now operates eleven daily trains over ten routes, including the new run between Daventry and Widnes.
- Daventry (Tesco’s main hub in the English Midlands) to Mossend in Central Scotland, near Glasgow
- Mossend to Teesport
- Daventry to the Port of Tilbury (running twice daily to serve demand in London)
- Tilbury to Coatbridge (serving Central Scotland outlets)
- Daventry to Wentloog (near Cardiff for South Wales supermarkets)
- Daventry to Teesport via Doncaster
- Mossend to Inverness in the north of Scotland. Produce from Central Scottish manufacturers is added to the consist)
- Daventry to Manchester (which is now supplemented by the Widnes run)
Every month, on behalf of Tesco, DRS transports over 12,000 containers. That’s 24000 TEU in shipping terms, or equivalent to the entire load of one of the ultra-large container vessels currently at sea. ULCV, or “Ultra-Large Container Vessel”, is an actual international designation and is a prodigious cargo of groceries. As our sister publication, WorldCargo News frequently reports, these enormous vessels often call at UK ports, and rail is playing an increasing role in moving their cargoes inland – including containers destined for Tesco shelves. “[They’re] travelling thousands of miles safely, securely and reliably to ensure vital products are available and shelves are stocked all year round across Great Britain,” said Gottfried Eymer, who has more points on his loyalty card than anyone else in the world. Probably.