Stobart Rail Freight
The Stobart Group operates some rail based services, both for freight as the Stobart Rail service, and (formerly) for passengers. Rail operations were provided for the group by Direct Rail Services (DRS), but in 2009 it announced that it was switching partners to DB Schenker Rail (UK). Stobart also operated a short lived Stobart Pullman charter train.
For rail freight transport the group owns warehousing at the rail-connected Daventry International Railfreight Terminal (DIRFT), and owns the rail-connected Widnes Intermodal Rail Depot.
A service operated by DRS started on 4 November 2008 from Inverness southwards carrying containers operated for Tesco. The containers all carry the "Stobart Rail" or "Tesco - Less CO2" branding. Trucks carrying Stobart Rail branded containers are also carried by the haulage company J G Russell which partners Stobart in this operation.
The Stobart Group also briefly entered the passenger railtour market, through the Stobart Pullman, which was a re-branding of the Hertfordshire Rail Tours business inherited from Victa Westlink Rail. Traction was provided by Direct Rail Services using Stobart branded carriages. It was launched in February 2008 but as of July 2008 the operation was suspended, presumed closed.
On 30 October 2009 Stobart Rail commenced a new train service (operated in conjunction with DB Schenker Rail (UK); it operates a 1,100 mile journey from Valencia, providing a low carbon alternative for the import of fresh Spanish produce, terminating at the Ford Dagenham rail head.
Read more about this topic: Stobart Group, Current Operations, Stobart Transport and Distribution
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