Direct Rail Services extend partnership with Tesco

Direct Rail Services (DRS) | Tesco

Direct Rail Services (DRS) has extended its partnership with supermarket chain Tesco.

DRS, Nuclear Transport Solutions’ rail division, has signed a deal with the supermarket giant which will extend their partnership for another three years.

“This is fantastic news and is a testament to the long-standing relationship we have with Tesco, built over the last 10 years, and the excellent service we provide for our customers,” said Chris Connelly, Nuclear Transport Solutions Deputy CEO and Rail Director.

“The environmental and socioeconomic benefits of using rail are well proven and we are thrilled to be working with Tesco for at least another three years.

“We’ll be maximising the use of our state-of-the-art Class 88 locomotives to move up to 76 HGVs worth of goods hundreds of miles and, when running on overhead electricity, with zero exhaust emissions.

Recently, DRS launched Tesco’s first refrigerated rail freight service, using the Class 88 locomotives, taking at least 17,000 containers off the road each year.

Connelly added, “We’ve also been working with Tesco to trial diesel fuel alternatives which eliminate up to 90% of carbon dioxide emissions, opening up 62% of the rail network, which doesn’t benefit from electricity to extremely low CO2 rail freight.

“Every month we transport around 12,000 containers travelling thousands of miles safely, securely and reliably to ensure shelves are stocked all year round across Great Britain and I can’t wait to see what the next few years will bring.”

DRS will now run services between:

  • Daventry to Mossend
  • Mossend to Teesport
  • Daventry to Tilbury x2
  • Tilbury to Coatbridge
  • Daventry to Wentloog
  • Daventry to Teesport via Doncaster
  • Mossend to Inverness