On Tuesday, the Cumbrian company famed for road haulage will launch its first foray into rail freight after investing £5.5m in a service that will shift goods for Tesco. The trains will run between the retailer’s depots in Livingston in Scotland and Daventry in Northamptonshire (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/09/eddie_stobart_takes_to_the_rai.html#more

"But, strangely, it is the environmental benefit of rail that makes the whole project possible, because without almost £500,000 in “green” grants from the Department for Transport and the Scottish Executive the service would not have been financially viable."

“Our understanding is that if we keep on applying for the grant we will get it renewed if we can show the environmental benefit,” said Andrew Tinkler, the haulier’s chairman. “There is an environmental impact on continually taking 26 trucks up to Scotland five days a week.”

"The industry has also suffered from a mixed reputation in Britain, where often the distances covered aren’t great enough to justify the cost. If, for example, a train carrying several loads encounters a problem, none of the loads gets delivered on time. On the roads, some lorries would find a way through."

"Stobart believes he has the answer to this problem, although it is hardly a high-tech one. “The train is diesel- powered,” he said, “because otherwise it could run only on electrified tracks. If there is a blockage, this train can turn off like a truck and find an alternative route. If we didn’t have that, it wouldn’t work.”

"Still, Eddie Stobart claims to be in talks about further rail deals with other big clients, including Coca-Cola, which may convince doubters that the deal is the real thing."