Maritime Transport commences operations at Hams Hall
Posted 11 Jul 2022
long-term agreement with Associated British Ports (ABP) to operate the facility. The move is the latest in a series of key developments to strengthen the company’s rail credentials in the Midlands and to establish a network of strategic rail freight interchanges throughout the UK. Hams Hall brings the tally of Maritime’s intermodal rail freight terminals to seven and extends its existing offering at Tamworth (BIFT) and East Midlands Gateway in the Midlands. Under the deal, 21 permanent ABP employees based at Hams Hall have transferred to Maritime as part of the Midlands regional team within the company’s dedicated Intermodal division.
Centrally located, adjacent to the Nuneaton-to-Birmingham railway line, M42 Junction 9 and in close proximity to M1, M5, M6, M6 Toll and M54, Hams Hall’s unique position makes it an important gateway to the West Midlands. Spanning 40 acres, the rail facility has two 750m reception sidings, four 450m terminal sidings and storage capacity to accommodate 3,250 TEU. Initially, five reach stackers will be deployed, rising to seven later this year to support the operation. Maritime will base a road fleet at Hams Hall to provide local deliveries and collections for customers. The site will continue to operate 24/7, Monday to Saturday.
There are currently seven daily rail services, including paths to/from the ports of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Seaforth, and plans to increase these over the coming months are already under way. As one of the country’s busiest rail freight terminals and only 10 miles to Birmingham, Hams Hall plays a significant role in regional logistics supply chains, handling deep-sea and short-sea traffic, with the capability to handle trains via the Channel Tunnel too. In time, Maritime will look to expand domestic, terminal to terminal, rail freight services to support UK supply chains via Hams Hall.
Hams Hall is the second long-term, strategic infrastructure agreement with ABP this year. In April, Maritime acquired a six-acre, loaded container storage facility on West Bank Terminal at the Port of Ipswich. The storage depot currently provides space for up to 2,500 TEU.
John Williams, Group Executive Chairman, Maritime Transport:
'Developing a network of strategic intermodal rail terminals is part of our transformative plans to support and underpin low carbon domestic, as well as international, unitised logistics, promoting modal shift from road to rail and eventually first and final miles, from diesel to electric trucks.
As an efficient, established strategic freight interchange, Hams Hall is a key facility in our plans and a natural fit with our growing network of rail freight interchanges throughout the UK and we look forward to expanding our service capability and offering to customers to provide more capacity and choice on rail.'
Alastair Welch, Regional Director for Southampton, Associated British Ports:
‘This is an exciting development and very welcome investment by Maritime, a business that has established and grown a successful
intermodal division over the last three years. Hams Hall fits in line with Maritime’s ambitious expansion plans and we firmly
believe this historic agreement will bring added value to the UK rail freight sector.’
