STOBART Group completed the first journey of a fully refrigerated train service to go through Eurotunnel when its rail service from Spain arrived in the UK at midnight today.

The Stobart Rail service travelled 1,100 miles from Valencia to Dagenham and will be used to import fresh Spanish produce once a week.

It provides a faster journey time, which will improve the shelf life of the produce, while it is forecast that the train will reduce road journeys by 13.7m km a year.

William Stobart, chief operating officer of Stobart Group, said: “We are actively investigating the opportunity to extend the train service from the current terminal in Dagenham through the UK to our multi-modal terminal at Widnes, which is the ideal hub for distribution into the heartland of the UK.

“An extension of the train to this facility would take even more trucks off Britain’s crowded road network and make the total carbon saving for the transport of oranges, lemons and other Spanish fruit and veg even greater.

“At Widnes we also have extensive chilled warehouse and distribution facilities, adding further synergies and all part of our multi modal logistics offering to Stobart customers.”