Vauxhall Motors is returning to the railways for delivery of UK-built Opel Astras to Europe.
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The first shipment, destined for German dealers, is part of a long-term feasibility study which looks at ways the manufacturer can further reduce its impact on the environment.
An average of 70 Astras per train can be transported from the Richard Lawson loading site at Ellesmere Port’s Rossmore Industrial Estate to Purfleet, prior to shipping to continental destinations.
Each train-load brings a reduction of 10 transporters to the UK’s overcrowded motorways – or 3,500 miles of travel and 500 gallons of fuel.
“Vauxhall is optimistic that, thanks to the involvement of vehicle carrier Richard Lawson, rail operator STVA UK, Cheshire Police and Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council which has seen the introduction of new security measures such as CCTV cameras, we can reconsider the railways for the transportation of cars and vans,” said logistics and operations planning manager, Ned Lawton.
“Over 60 per cent of Ellesmere Port production is exported and it is our first priority to deliver customers a top quality car.”
The trial will continue into February with four trains per week leaving for Purfleet. The plant hopes to be able to transport new Vectra hatchback models, for which it is sole European producer, by rail from April. Separate loading tests for the new larger Vectra are currently being carried out.
Rail transport from the Ellesmere Port plant has previously been an effective alternative to the roads but was suspended in September last year due to vandalism and damage to vehicles.
