A NEW international rail freight service to move Toyota cars between the UK and northern France was formally launched at Toton depot on February 22, following trial runs in January, writes Chris Milner. It is said to be the first regular automotive traffic to use the Channel Tunnel for 15 years.
The twice weekly service will run between Toton and Valenciennes in northern France, linking the Toyota manufacturing plants at Burnaston (near Derby) and Onnaing (near Valenciennes). The new service is the result of four years of negotiations involving DB Cargo, Groupe CAT and its subsidiary STVA UK, Eurotunnel and Network Rail.
Toyota confirmed to DB Cargo its need for such a service in March 2021, and set a target commencement date of January 2022. A disused area within the Toton complex, at the south west end of the site near the paintshop, was identified as a suitable location to build a vehicle compound.
Inland port