The shift to rail is cutting delivery lead times by around 50%, according to Toyota. Logistics provider Cat Group, which is working with Getlink, provider of Channel Tunnel shuttle services, will transport up to 70,000 vehicles to and from the UK annually, equal to 270 trains. On average, six trains will depart per week. Toyota Corolla hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) produced at the Burnaston plant near Derby will be moved from the Toton rail yard in the UK to the carmaker’s Valenciennes hub and Yaris HEVs produced in France will be delivered back to Toton.   

Switching to rail will take around 8,500 trucks off the road annually, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 8,000 tonnes, according to the transport providers. That is 10% of carbon output from Toyota Motor Europe’s total logistics network. Truck freight was previously moving across the Channel via the ports of Grimsby (UK) and Zeebrugge (Belgium).