Malcolm rail enjoys 10 years growth

More than 130 lorries a day have been removed from Scotland’s busy motorway network thanks to the burgeoning transport group Malcolm Rail which was launched 10 years ago this month.

Initially, the rail service operated between Malcolm Logistics Grangemouth and Crick rail depot in Northampton, and involved four train journeys each way per week. Today on average 56 trains haul more than 18,500 tons of freight between five terminals in the UK every week.

Since that opening day in spring 2001, Malcolm Rail has developed the West of Scotland Rail Terminal at Elderslie, Renfrewshire, and in partnership with Prologis, taken operational control of Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, one of the biggest in the UK.

Andrew Malcolm, Chief Executive Officer of the Malcolm Group, said: “We are delighted with the continuing growth of Malcolm Rail, especially in the face of the current strong economic winds.

“We applaud the Scottish Government’s decision to extend the FFG (Freight Facility Grant) for another year and also the continuation by the Department of Transport of the MSRS (Mode Shift Revenue Support). We are, however, disappointed that the grant has been significantly reduced on the Grangemouth / Mossend routes to Daventry.”

Malcolm Rail is supported by DRS (Direct Rail Services) who are the company’s rail provider. A DRS spokesman said: “We are delighted to play a major contribution in this carbon footprint reduction.”