DP World’s UK Rail Shift Program Reduces Emissions

DP World has introduced the Modal Shift Programme in the UK, aimed at helping cargo owners lower their carbon footprint by transitioning from road transport to rail. This initiative, currently in a trial phase at DP World’s Southampton Logistics Hub, offers financial incentives to encourage customers to move their imported goods onto rail, thereby reducing carbon emissions and air pollutants. The program has the potential to prevent up to 30,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The incentive will be funded by a nominal fee on all import-laden containers passing through DP World Southampton.

Under this scheme, customers who opt to move their import-laden containers by rail to a railhead within 140 miles of DP World Southampton will receive a £70 incentive. For containers transported to a railhead beyond 140 miles, customers will be reimbursed the £10 fee per container.

John Trenchard, UK Commercial & Supply Chain Director at DP World, highlighted the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero logistics status by 2050 and supporting customers in their decarbonization efforts. DP World aims to boost rail’s share of cargo transport from the Southampton terminal to around 40% by the end of 2025, aligning with the UK Government’s goals to shift freight transport from road to more environmentally sustainable rail options.

DP World’s efforts in sustainability, including the Modal Shift Programme, contributed to the company receiving the ‘Sustainability Company of the Year’ award at Multimodal 2023. DP World also achieved a 55% reduction in net carbon emissions at its Southampton operations in 2022 by transitioning to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and investing £12 million in the first all-electric fleet of straddle carriers to be used at a port anywhere in the world at London Gateway.