DB Schenker returns Ministry of Defence rail freight services to Donnington
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Thursday 26 March 2009
First MoD freight train to visit Donnington in 18 years
DB Schenker, Britain’s largest rail freight company, operated on Monday 23 March 2009 the first freight train to Donnington (Telford) for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in nearly 20 years.
The train formed part of the rail freight service provision contract the MoD has with DB Schenker. The train transported containers from Marchwood Military Port and Bicester to the newly re-opened rail freight terminal at Donnington, removing lorries from the road network and re-establishing a permanent link to the rest of the rail network.
DB Schenker supplies locomotives to pull the MoD’s own fleet of railway wagons, as well as providing specialist services utilising the DB Schenker wagon fleet as required. In an average year the MoD utilises around 8,000 wagon movements on Britain’s rail network.
The national railway network is a vital strategic transport asset for MoD, who take full advantage of it to move by rail a wide range of armoured vehicles and material. Moving these items by rail saves on road transport costs and exploits MoD’s existing rail assets. It also meets the MoD’s commitment to greener issues.
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