The programme also highlights the growing importance of rail in enabling the transition. By handling long-distance trunk haul movements, rail reduces the operational demands placed on electric trucks. This allows eHGVs to focus on shorter, more predictable journeys where range and charging constraints are less acute. Maritime’s approach reflects a broader industry trend, where intermodal logistics is emerging as a practical pathway towards lower emissions.

Rail increases fivefold

With the recent opening of the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, Maritime has strengthened the backbone of its intermodal network. The Northampton Gateway facility provides direct access to the West Coast Main Line, enabling efficient north–south rail movements while anchoring shorter road legs for final delivery. It is a model that aligns closely with the operational needs of battery-electric trucks.

With Maritime’s Northampton Gateway now live, the company’s rail freight network is even more critical to the rollout of eHGVs by shortening the road leg to a manageable electric range. “Rail is crucial for increasing the viability of eHGVs,” explained Tom Williams, deputy CEO at Maritime Transport. “Since the launch of Maritime Intermodal in 2019, we have moved from railing six per cent of our volume to circa thirty per cent in 2026.”

Rail offers a range of solutions

Range anxiety, which remains an issue for private electric vehicle owners, is evident for commercial operators too. However, the regime is more predictable in the eHGV sector, where access to charging infrastructure can be planned in advance. Even so, questions remain around how far heavy electric trucks can travel under load across varied duty cycles.

“Two of the big criticisms of eHGVs are payload and range,” said Williams. “Focusing on range, technology will help improve this area as battery chemistry develops. Charging networks are also improving, which will support longer journeys. However, these changes will take time and investment before they fully address operational requirements across the sector.”

Intermodal model reduces cost

“If we focus on these alone, there is still a lot of time and money required to overcome the barrier,” Williams added. “By using rail, which is here and in use now, we are effectively removing range as a barrier for eHGVs. Take our Manchester operation [at Trafford Park]. A vehicle, on average, will do less than 1,000 miles per week, which is well-suited to electric operation.”

“What is more,” added Williams, “if the final mile is short enough, you can reduce the number of batteries required. That in turn gives you the ability to carry more payload.” This interplay between rail and road highlights a key advantage of intermodal logistics. By shifting energy-intensive trunk haul to rail, operators can deploy lighter, more efficient electric trucks for distribution, improving both economics and emissions performance.

Infrastructure investment supports wider adoption

Maritime’s rollout includes 56 eHGVs across 13 depots and rail-connected terminals during 2026, supported by a growing high-powered charging network. Once complete, the company expects to have more than 22MW of installed capacity, capable of charging over 100 vehicles simultaneously. Importantly, this infrastructure will also be accessible to third-party operators, potentially accelerating wider industry uptake.

The initiative is backed by the government’s Zero Emission HGV and Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, delivered with support from Innovate UK. Maritime is participating across multiple projects, testing electric, hydrogen, and diesel vehicles on live routes. However, the company’s operational model remains consistent. Rail handles the long-distance movement, while electric trucks complete the final mile, offering a pragmatic route to decarbonisation using existing assets.

By combining over 30 daily rail services linking major UK ports with nine inland terminals, Maritime ZERO offers customers a zero-emission alternative for both long-distance and local transport. Battery-electric handling and transport entering service this November will enable a fully sustainable door-to-door solution.

Integrated rail and road model

“Launching this year, Maritime ZERO is our new division dedicated to zero-emission transport, delivering battery electric trucks, high-powered charging infrastructure, and the network-wide capability required to support our customers’ decarbonisation goals,” said a company statement. Maritime Transport’s intermodal rail network allows operators to accommodate the UK’s longest and heaviest freight trains. At its nine UK terminals – Wakefield, Tilbury, Manchester, iPort Doncaster, Northampton, Mossend, East Midlands Gateway, Tamworth, and Hams Hall – the company deploys over 100 handling machines.

Maritime also stores more than 30,000 TEU of loaded and empty containers across off-dock sites. These are at Ipswich, Liverpool, Felixstowe, and DP World London Gateway (where plans are already in hand for a second rail terminal. “Maritime ZERO gives customers a carbon-efficient solution from port to final delivery,” said Tom Williams of Maritime Transport. “By combining rail and zero-emission trucks, we can deliver both environmental benefits and operational flexibility across the UK supply chain.”

Accurate carbon reporting

Alongside the launch, Maritime Transport has introduced a carbon reporting system fully integrated with its transport management platform, TOPS. The system calculates emissions for every journey stage, supporting Scope 3 reporting and helping customers track progress against sustainability goals. Data is presented in line with Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) standards, offering actionable insights for further emissions reduction. “Fully integrated with our growing rail network to maximise emissions savings, Maritime ZERO forms part of a long-term strategy to build the UK’s cleanest, most sustainable full-load supply chain”, said Maritime.

Maritime Transport Ltd is a UK-based logistics operator offering integrated rail and road services. Its intermodal network and fleet solutions provide a sustainable, high-capacity alternative for freight moving across the country, including dedicated services linking Felixstowe, DP World London Gateway, and Southampton with inland terminals. The company supports a flexible operating model tailored to customer requirements and is committed to sustainable, zero-emission logistics.