UK upturn fuels freight growth for Eurotunnel
quarter results to the upturn in the UK economy. Total revenue for the period was up by 16 per cent over the third quarter of 2012 to £261 million and by 7 per cent excluding maritime activities.
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During the first nine months of 2013, the number of freight trains travelling through the Channel Tunnel was up by 11 per cent to almost 2,000 trains, due to increases in intermodal traffic and the transport of steel. Tonnage has also increased by 11 per cent, with the symbolic threshold of one million tonnes in nine months having been passed.
Eurotunnel says it is continuing to ‘try to remove the numerous non- tariff barriers which obstruct the development of cross-Channel rail freight.’
The ETICA programme launched by Eurotunnel in May to develop cross-Channel rail freight is ‘already bearing fruit’ says Eurotunnel. Two new services will be launched by the year end and two more are planned for 2014, with other prospects being analysed. The first contract signed already represents a transfer to rail of 80 trucks per week.
Europorte, which brings together Groupe Eurotunnel SA’s rail freight operators in France and the UK continues to grow. GB Railfreight has consolidated its position as third largest operator in Great Britain, carrying increasing quantities of biomass, coal and aggregates. ‘In the freight market it’s quite clear the economic recovery in Britain is driving huge demand,’ said Gounon. ‘Imports to the UK are up, mainly from Germany and eastern Europe, and it’s widely spread between fresh goods and industrial spare parts — it appears that all the segments are involved in such growth.’
Gounon predicted business would grow further in line with forecast economic growth in the UK and said: ‘Before the 2008 crisis, when the UK’s economy grew 1 per cent, our market grew by 1.5 per cent, or 50 per cent more than GDP. So now expectations are for 2 per cent growth in Britain next year, we believe our market could grow by at least 3 per cent.’
December 2013 Page 23
urotunnel chairman and CEO Jacques Gounon credited strong third
Freight’s role in London’s transport history
to Transport for London Commissioner, Sir Peter Hendy CBE, and Harry Beck, the designer of the original Tube map. The liveries were designed by London Transport Museum’s in-house design team and put onto two of GB Railfreight’s existing locomotives, which will now be used for freight services supporting the construction of Crossrail and the renewal of the London Underground infrastructure on the Metropolitan, District and Hammersmith and City lines.
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John Smith, managing director of GB Railfreight, said: ‘Quietly, behind the scenes, rail freight continues to play a pivotal role in the success of the capital’s operations – clearing the tracks for commuter trains and working on the construction of major infrastructure projects that will define the future of the transport network.’ Director of London Transport Museum, Sam Mullins, said: ‘As a charity we rely on the generosity of corporate members like GB Railfreight to continue our work bringing past, present and future visions of London transport to life. This event marks the start of an exciting relationship with GB Railfreight and a foray into the freight industry, so heavily involved in London’s transport history.’
o mark the 150th anniversary of the London Underground and celebrate GB Railfreight’s new partnership with London Transport Museum, two locomotives with new liveries and names have been unveiled and dedicated
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