Tesco has partnered with Direct Rail Services on a new refrigerated rail freight service that will lower its carbon emissions while reducing the number of lorries it needs on the road.
The new low-CO2 rail service train will transport chilled goods from Tilbury to Coatbridge and run twice a day, seven days a week.
“Our rail service will be an important part of our efforts to deliver a fantastic Christmas for our customers, but the journey doesn’t stop here as we continue to increase the number of containers we transport by rail,” said Tesco UK & ROI CEO Jason Tarry.
Tesco has been using rail to transport goods since 2008 and recently ramped up its rail freight operations to keep shelves stocked during the HGV driver shortages.
In October, CEO Ken Murphy said the retailer aimed to deliver around 90,000 containers of goods a year to its warehouses via trains by the end of this year – up from about 65,000 at the time.
Over the past year alone, it has increased the number of containers filled with produce destined for stores transported by rail by nearly 50%.
This latest partnership with DRS is also part of Tesco’s goal to hit net zero in its own operations by 2035, as all-rail freight is less carbon-emitting than trucks.
It will see the grocer remove at least 17,000 containers from the road each year, saving it 7.3 million road miles and nearly 9,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The 415-mile route will use DRS’s Class 88 bi-mode electric locomotives, which can run on electricity and produce zero greenhouse gas emissions.
This will be the first time that Tesco has used refrigerated rail freight in the UK.
“This new service reflects our continuing commitment to rail which has clear advantages for our business, our customers and the planet,” Tarry said.
Chris Connelly, deputy CEO and rail director of DRS parent company NTS, added: “This is fantastic news, not only for DRS and Tesco, but also for the environment. This is an example of how rail can play an integral part in the race to net zero.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Tesco on this new service, helping them drive down their carbon footprint as they deliver for their customers throughout the UK.”
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