BR wants a bigger Minilink
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• Minilink, the containerised distribution system operated by British Rail subsidiary Speedlink between London and Glasgow, is to be expanded. Details are likely to be announced at the Transport and Distribution Services Show at Wembley in October.
Mike Harvey from Speedlink says the mini-containers used by Minilink are proving popular with customers sending small, high value consignments, because the containers offer a high level of security.
Minilink plans to build on its existing services through contract distribution agreements. This is likely to include deals whereby customers are responsible for unloading the Minilink containers from trains and delivering the containers as required. The containers have been designed for easy loading and unloading from trains to trucks by truck drivers, so Minilink is optimistic about this development.
There are now more than 30 regular Minilink customers and it is operating profitably on a day-to-day basis. Harvey says: "We are happy with the technical performance and operating performance of the system arid we are delighted at finding several market niches."
The growth of the Minilink service through contract distribution should help it to grow profitably, says Harvey, and should also enable Speedlink to offer the Minilink service from different parts of the country.