DP World has achieved a significant milestone in its carbon-reducing Modal Shift Programme, recording the movement of its 100,000th container by rail from its Southampton logistics hub. The programme, designed to promote sustainable logistics, has seen a substantial increase in rail freight usage, rising from 21% at its inception to over 30% today.
The landmark container, carrying goods for major retailer Halfords, recently departed Southampton via freight train. The success of the Modal Shift Programme has helped remove more than 25,000 tonnes of CO₂e from supply chains while alleviating road congestion by diverting approximately eight million road miles to rail transport. DP World now aims to further elevate the rail freight share to 40% by 2026.
John Trenchard, Vice President – Commercial & Supply Chain at DP World UK, expressed his gratitude to customers for embracing the initiative. “Reaching this groundbreaking milestone of 100,000 additional containers moved by rail is a testament to our team’s dedication in making the Modal Shift Programme a success. This unique initiative is central to DP World’s commitment to providing market-leading, sustainable supply chain solutions in the UK,” he stated.
The programme, which launched in September 2023, offers financial incentives to customers for every import-laden container moved by rail within 140 miles of Southampton. Since its inception, four new daily rail services have been established, connecting Southampton to Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands Gateway, and Doncaster. This initiative has also garnered DP World multiple accolades, including ‘Business of the Year’ and ‘Driving Rail Freight Growth’ at the Rail Freight Group awards, as well as the edie decarbonisation award for ‘Transport and Mobility Project of the Year.’
Emma Tillsley, International Logistics and Customs Manager at Halfords, emphasized the importance of shifting freight from road to rail. “Reducing emissions across our supply chain is a priority. The DP World programme’s CO₂e reductions, combined with a reliable rail service, provide a first-class logistics solution,” she said.
This milestone follows DP World’s recent success with its Carbon Inset Programme, a world-first initiative at a container port. Launched in January, the programme has registered over 100,000 TEUs of import-laden containers in just two months, rewarding importers with 50kg CO₂e of carbon inset credits for every loaded import container handled at DP World’s London Gateway and Southampton terminals.
