Marco Polo Project
Get Together @ 2XL
G2G@2XL is a modal shift action combining a rail and SSS service connecting Austria, Switzerland and Italy with the UK. The service focuses on fast Moving Consumers Goods (FMCG) and non hazardous chemical products from the above mentioned European countries that are currently being transported by road to the UK. Main customers will consist of producers of FMCG in Italy and Switzerland and a producer of non hazardous chemical products in Austria. Final destinations of these goods will be leading UK supermarkets and several chemical production sites throughout the UK.
Firstly, on the continental part of the service, a considerable modal shift will be achieved by shifting freight from road to rail. Secondly, the shift for the port of Calais to Zeebrugge will have considerable effect on the distribution of the freight in the UK. Whereas freight transported by Calais will have to drive throughout the UK to reach its final destination, Zeebrugge offers the advantage of ro/ro ships sailing to different UK ports in this proposal (Purfleet, Tilbury, Hull, Teesport and Rosyth). By using these shipping lines and due to the geographical structure of the UK, a lot of road mileage is excluded in comparison with the transit via Dover.
From its platform in Zeebrugge, 2XL developed its unique selling proposition: the Direct Customer Shipment (DCS) concept. This implies a direct distribution to the UK market by optimizing the supply chain: no need of any other UK warehouse and less parties involved. Crucial in this concept is the strategic position of Zeebrugge as important short sea port to the UK and its rising significance as deep sea hub for North Western Europe. Just in time shipment can be made due to the variety of ro/ro shipping lines working out of Zeebrugge. These shipping lines offer frequent departures and cover the whole UK territory. The Uk distribution can be done with full trucks, but also multi-drops and single pallet deliveries are possible.
The position of 2XL in Zeebrugge is unique, due to the fact that they can accept intermodal containers and conventional rail wagons. They can accept all kind of commodities. The focus is put on FMCG and non hazardous chemicals as these goods can be transported easily by rail in bigger volumes. Large companies in the FMCG and chemical industry go for more sustainability in their supply chain. These ideas equal our ideas about the new way of sustainable transport logistics. Not only the DCS concept is important, but also the cross docking becomes a tool in the promotion of the modal shift. By doing this 2XL creates an additional flexibility for their clients, meaning that goods can be stored at the 2XL premises if no immediate market demand is present and delivered in 24 hours to the final destination in the UK if urgent market demand arises.
