Got a question?
Speak to our team about Rail Freight
We will respond as soon as possible.
Rail Freight
Low-carbon UK rail freight delivered through a national terminal network and daily services, with integrated road and storage operations.
About Our Rail Freight Solutions
We’re driving long-term modal shift through continuous investment in rail freight infrastructure, services, and capability. Rail produces significantly fewer emissions than road and removes thousands of HGV journeys from the UK’s busiest routes, offering a cleaner, more efficient solution for long-distance movements.
Nine open-access, multi-user rail terminals
50+ daily rail services connecting major ports, industrial areas, and inland terminals
Network-wide loaded and empty container storage and M&R facilities
Infrastructure designed for the UK’s longest and heaviest freight trains
120+ handling machines including ECHs, FLTs, gantry cranes, reach stackers, and straddle carriers
Integrated road fleets for first and final miles including eHGVs and charging infrastructure
Flexible contract models across dedicated and shared-use services
24/7 terminal teams ensuring round-the-clock support
end-to-end
Our Process
An overview of our typical delivery process for rail freight, showing how this solution is managed end-to-end. If your requirements fall outside this process, our team can advise on the most appropriate setup.
Book
Send your movement details by email, online form, or EDI. We confirm availability and agree rail dates or suitable alternatives.
Plan
Your container is scheduled through our national rail network using the most efficient route and timings to meet your requirements.
Import/Export
Import: We collect from your nominated port or storage location, completing all required checks, documentation, and operational procedures. Export: We ensure containers are booked to the correct port and planned to meet known or requested cut-offs.
Track
24/7 support from our customer service teams keep you fully informed throughout the journey.
Deliver
We complete the delivery within the agreed window.
With integrated road, rail, and container terminal operations, Maritime provides a single, connected logistics network that delivers reliable, low-carbon transport across the UK.
Established UK Rail Operator
One of the UK’s largest intermodal rail operators, with a long-standing and growing presence across domestic and containerised rail freight, trusted by ports, shipping lines and logistics partners nationwide.
National Rail Network
Nine strategically located, open-access, multi-user terminals, with over 50 daily rail services connecting major ports, inland markets, and industrial locations across the UK.
Seamless Road-Rail Integration
All our rail terminals have their own dedicated vehicle fleets, enabling direct transfer between rail and road without third-party reliance, improving efficiency, reducing handling time, and maintaining service continuity across the network.
Lower-Carbon Transport
Rail freight produces up to 76% fewer CO2 emissions per tonne-kilometre than transporting the same load by road. Our continued investment in rail expansion, eHGVs, and emissions reporting supports long-term carbon reduction across end-to-end supply chains.
Predictable Transit Times
Our rail services are monitored in real time through CYMAN and TOPS. These systems record every stage of a container’s journey, from arrival to final delivery, providing live ETAs and service updates.
Ongoing Investment in Rail Capacity
Continued investment in rail infrastructure, equipment, and technology strengthens long-term capacity, network resilience, and service reliability across our intermodal rail operations.
New Infrastructure
Major projects, including our newest 17-acre rail terminal at Northampton Gateway, are increasing national rail capacity and unlocking additional paths, services, and future growth across the UK rail network.
Projects and Partnerships
DP World’s Modal Shift Programme was introduced to increase the financial attractiveness of rail for loaded import containers moving inland from Southampton. We operate several rail terminals within the programme’s incentive zone, creating more opportunities for containers arriving at Southampton to move inland by rail:
- Hams Hall Rail Freight Terminal
- Birmingham Rail Freight Terminal
- East Midlands Gateway Rail Freight Terminal
- Northampton Gateway Rail Freight Terminal
- London Rail Freight Terminal
Our locations
A National Network
Birmingham Rail Freight Terminal
Maritime Transport Ltd. Birch Coppice Industrial Estate, Ansley Hall Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B78 1SQ
01827 264 413
Mon 05:00–00:00; Tue–Fri 24 hours; Sat 00:00–13:00; Sun Closed
East Midlands Gateway Rail Freight Terminal
Maritime Transport Ltd, Maritime House, Bainbrigge Road, Kegworth, Derby, DE74 2BP
01332 982 593
Mon 05:00–00:00; Tue–Fri 24 hours; Sat 00:00–18:00; Sun 06:00–18:00
Hams Hall Rail Freight Terminal
Maritime Transport Ltd. Edison Road, Hams Hall, Distribution Park, Coleshill, West Midlands, B46 1DA
01675 461 300
Mon 06:00–00:00; Tue–Fri 24 hours; Sat 00:00–14:00; Sun Closed
iPort Rail Freight Terminal
iPort Rail Freight Terminal, Maritime Transport Ltd, Railport Way, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN11 0BQ
01302 590 759
Mon–Sun 24 hours
London Rail Freight Terminal
Maritime Transport Ltd. London Container Terminal, Maritime Tilbury Railport, Tilbury, Essex, RM18 7HX
01375 857 807
Mon–Sun 24 hours
Manchester Rail Freight Terminal
Maritime Transport Ltd. Westinghouse Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1FA
0161 749 2654
Mon 06:00–00:00; Tue–Fri 24 hours; Sat 00:00–12:00; Sun Closed
Mossend Rail Freight Terminal
Maritime Transport Ltd. McNeil Drive, Holytown, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, ML1 4UR
0141 471 5501
Mon–Sun 24 hours
Northampton Gateway Rail Freight Terminal
Maritime Transport Ltd. Maritime House, Grand Union Road, Milton Malsor, Northamptonshire, NN7 2FT
01604 814 772
Mon 06:00–00:00; Tue–Fri 24 hours; Sat 00:00–18:00; Sun 06:00–18:00
Wakefield Rail Freight Terminal
Maritime Transport Ltd. Wakefield Europort, Normanton, West Yorkshire, WF10 5UA
01924 938 710
Mon–Sun 24 hours
Rail Freight That Goes Further
To strengthen its role within UK supply chains, we’ve expanded our rail terminal footprint to nine open-access, multi-user sites nationwide. Our rail operations handle both domestic and containerised cargo across a wide range of sectors spanning manufacturing, retail, FMCG, and contract logistics, with integrated storage, flexible contract models, and first and final-mile fleets to meet all your operational needs.
Frequently asked questions