Monday 24th September 2007

LONDON TO SCOTLAND RAIL FREIGHT SERVICE

In conjunction with Victa Westlink Rail we are pleased to announce that a new inter-modal Railfreight service from London to Scotland will be running 5 days per week with timings offering customers improved overnight transit opportunities.

The service connects London (using terminals at Purfleet and Tilbury) to North West England (AHC Westlink at Widnes) and the Scottish Central Belt (Grangemouth).  It is designed to convey intermodal units up to 9’6” high x 13.6m long x 2.55m wide.

The service is proving popular but limited space is still available for customers moving traffic over this route. 

Brief details of the service are set out below:

VWR BOOKINGS DESK – 0845 873 8100
0830 to 1730 Monday to Friday

Timings

Note 1 – Cut off times for arrival of units at terminals will be advised by our bookings team (see below).
Note 2 – The Friday Southbound departure from Grangemouth recesses at Widnes to provide a Monday morning arrival at Tilbury & Purfleet

Equipment

The services can accommodate 20’/30’/40’/45’ ISO units up to 9’6” high and Top Lift Swap Bodies up to S42. Maximum weight per unit is 44 tonnes gross per unit.
Please call our bookings desk for more details on the acceptance of bottom lift equipment
Dangerous/Chemical goods are only accepted after consulting with our bookings desk as not all ADR Classes are accepted.

Rates

Rate enquiries should be directed to our bookings desk on 0845 873 8100. We can tailor our service to customer requirements, and include road collections and deliveries at either end of the rail movement if required. Alternatively, arrangements for road haulage and storage can be made between the customer and terminal directly using the contact details below.

* - Initial Contact on behalf of Port of Tilbury & W.Carter Haulage Ltd.

VWR BOOKINGS DESK – 0845 873 8100
0830 to 1730 Monday to Friday

GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT

Friday 21st September 2007
 
AHC Westlink is pleased to announce that following the successful merger of its parent company, The Westbury Property Fund with superbrand ‘Eddie Stobart’, it is now part of the newly-formed Stobart Group Limited – which is able to offer a truly integrated transport and logistics solution, combining road, rail and ports activities.

Amongst the group’s new assets are The Port of Weston in Runcorn, which is currently being developed to become part of the Mersey estuary ‘SuperPort’ initiative, the AHC Westlink road transport operation in Widnes and the long-established O’Connors Transport company, which has road and daily rail-connectivity through its container-base and rail sidings at Ditton in Halton.

The Stobart Group has an established portfolio of long-term, big-brand customers including Tesco, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson and Sarah Lee, and currently employs more than 2,500 people throughout the UK, though it expects to create many more through its diverse investment and regeneration activities.  At Widnes, the group plans to develop over one million square feet of warehousing space, which could create in excess of 1,000 new jobs.
 
VWR is to be headed by Stobart Group’s Director of Rail, Guy Myddelton, and Managing Director Neil Sime, who will together spearhead integration with the other group companies and focus on the expansion and development of the VICTA Westlink freight offering.
 
“Being part of The Stobart Group will not only give us the backing of one of the UK’s real ‘superbrands’ it will also provide access to the vast experience and expertise of its new management team.” said MD Neil Sime today.
 
“Stobart Group is focused on the huge commercial and environmental benefits of integrated road, rail and waterborne freight.  We will be delighted to play our part in its long-term development and success.”