DB Schenker "on track" with London Gateway

DB Schenker "on track" with London Gateway

Carsten Hinne

Carsten Hinne, Managing Director of DB Schenker Rail UK (Logistics, says he is "looking forward to the opening of the [on dock] rail terminal and to running the first container train" into the new DP World port
In an in-house interview, Mr Hinne says that DB Schenker Rail UK is already planning its first door-to-door services between London Gateway, the Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire. "We are making significant investments in IT and in our wagon fleet in order to support these services," said Hinne.
Specifically, DB Schenker Rail UK is implementing a new IT system called Anubis that, says Hinne, "will revolutionise our order-to-cash capability. It provides tracking along the whole supply chain as well as full EDI integration with customers and partners. This will support our door-to-door service and provide additional functionality for our customers.
"Anubis will be the most advanced ordering system in the market. It demonstrates the advantage of having the strength of the DB group behind us, and underlines DB Schenker Rail’s position as innovation leader."
The company is modifying 72 intermodal wagons that will operate daily freight services to and from London Gateway. The modification to the 60ft wagons will reduce their deck height to 1000mm and allow it to carry more 9ft 6in high cubes on W10 routes. "The wagons are set to become a familiar sight when services to and from Britain’s new super-port commence in Q4 2013," said Hinne. The trains will be 700m long from Day 1.
So far DB Schenker Rail UK is the only rail intermodal train operator to announce a service agreement with DP World London Gateway. The new port is important for the company, in that it is a relative "newcomer" to the British domestic market for shipping containers and lags behind both the "legacy" supplier Freightliner and GB Railfreight over Felixstowe and Freightliner over Southampton. Transport and 3PL logistics company Roadways Container Logistics has also stated that it will be offering intermodal trucking and rail services over DP World London Gateway from day one.
To that extent, Hinne's intervention at this juncture adds to the "sizzle" surrounding London Gateway, but what is missing is the "steak" - in the shape of the carrier(s) that will call at the new port. For the time being this remains a "closed book," but for the past year and more there have been rumours that the CYHK (Alliance COSCO, K Line, Yang Ming Line and Hanjin Shipping), a key Felixstowe customer, is in the frame.
Time will tell, but this is not the best time to open a new container terminal in Europe. Ask JWP Wilhelmshaven and Eurogate!
Hinne does make the point that DB Schenker Rail UK's investment in IT and wagons "will strengthen our whole intermodal network." Both DP World London Gateway and DB Schenker Rail UK will be exhibiting at Multimodal, which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham between 23 and 25 April.