Briefs: First Spain-UK refrigerated railway line

Stobart Rail, a branch of leading UK transport Stobart Group and British DB Schenker Rail recently launched temperature-controlled intermodal services from Valencia to the UK via the Channel Tunnel. This is a unique example of a single rail freight operator across three European countries and a major development in reducing the carbon footprint and transportation time of fresh and ambient-temperature produce. Every train is to contain 30 reefer wagons and will reduce CO2 emissions by over 8600 tonnes by running three times a week and taking 30 reefer trucks off the road. Stobart plans to run the train up to 5 times a week by late 2010.