Tesco said they will introduce a refrigerated rail freight service that will lower its carbon emissions while reducing the number of lorries it needs on the road.
The grocer has teamed up with Direct Rail Services for this initiative. The new service will be the first time Tesco has used refrigerated rail freight in the UK, distributing chilled goods from Tilbury to Coatbridge by low CO2 rail twice a day, seven days a week.
This means that rail freight will play an even bigger role in helping Tesco to deliver Christmas this year and over the next couple of weeks this new service will transport hundreds of different products, including festive favourites such as sprouts, parsnips, carrots, onions, oranges and lemons just in time for that all important Christmas dinner.
Using rail has significant environmental benefits. This service will support the grocer in removing at least 17,000 containers off the road each year, saving it 7.3 million road miles and nearly 9,000 tonnes of CO2e.
Tesco is increasing its use of rail freight as part of its efforts to meet its commitment to net zero emissions in its own operations by 2035. Over the past year alone the supermarket has increased the number of containers with produce destined for stores transported by rail by nearly 50%.
