EWS has implemented another enhancement for its shipping line customers with the introduction of a new daily high cube container service between the Port of Southampton and the new Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal (BIFT) which is owned and operated by Roadways Container Logistics Limited.

The new service follows the recent publication of Network Rail's Freight Route Utilisation Strategy which forecasts a 422% increase in the movement of maritime containers by rail by 2015. The new daily multi-user service has been created in direct response to this demand from major shipping lines. EWS has a strong programme for intermodal growth, and will continue delivering the services that shipping lines need to meet this demand.

The service, commenced on 11 September 2006, and will be able to haul an average of 30 containers per train. The daily train will remove over 20,000 lorry movements per annum from the congested road network.

EWS is delighted to have been able to introduce the new service during a time of expansion at Southampton Terminal. The BIFT train is the fifth daily Southampton service that EWS now operates, complementing existing daily services which the company provides to and from Burton on Trent, Trafford Park (Manchester), Wakefield and Widnes.

As a multi-user service, customers will be able to book space in accordance with their need. In addition, when faced with the need to move a container at short notice, customers will also be able to check space on the service via the last minute intermodal availability timetable on EWS's website. This is the only on-line timetable in Britain that uniquely shows customers last minute availability to move containers by rail on both import and export services.

EWS is currently expanding its terminal at the Port of Southampton. The new daily service to Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal is the first of a number of new destinations EWS will introduce from Southampton during this winter.

Duncan Clark, EWS Business Development Manager, said: "Major shipping lines demanded a daily EWS service to the newly expanded Birmingham Intermodal Freight Terminal from the Port of Southampton and we are delighted to have yet again met the needs of shipping lines. With a strong growth forecast for the movement of containers by rail, EWS is excited to be developing a range of new services to be launched to shipping lines later this year."

Graeme Clarke, Roadways Container Logistics' Managing Director, said: "EWS have introduced a service that meets the needs of shipping lines and harnesses some of the potential of our new terminal. We're pleased to welcome them and their customers. We have a long relationship with EWS and are working with them to introduce additional services to other parts of Britain."