‘Rolling motorway’ launched for cross-Channel rail freight

Eurotunnel is launching a new rail freight service between France and Britain via the Channel Tunnel which will convey unaccompanied cargoes, dubbed a ‘rolling motorway’. A partnership has been formed between Eurotunnel and freight handler CargoBeamer to run the new service between Calais and Ashford. Eurotunnel said the extension of the ‘rolling motorway’ from Perpignan to Ashford was a ‘logical step’ in developing a future international intermodal network between the Channel and the Mediterranean. A second route from Domodossola, in the Alps region, to Calais will also be extended to Ashford after its launch early next month. Both the new rail services combined will avoid 8,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, Eurotunnel said, which supports to the move to decarbonise freight and promote modal shift. An unaccompanied freight service also eases the shortage of HGV drivers in the UK and Europe as well as relieving road traffic congestion. Eurotunnel freight commercial director Christian Dufermont said: ‘The signature of this partnership confirms our freight commercial strategy and is concrete proof of our customers’ increased interest in an unaccompanied cross-Channel service that helps decarbonise their logistic chains and improves flexibility.’