A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) has launched a new rail service between its operations at the Port of Pipavav and the city of Gurgaon, India, as part of its ‘Just-in-Time’ supply chain model for manufacturers.
In a statement, Maersk said the ‘Automotive Express’ will meet the needs of automotive manufacturers in India.
Such needs include a highly reliable logistics services that can move components and raw materials, as well as finished products on precise schedules to ensure uninterrupted production processes.
“For years several of these manufacturers based in and around Gurugram, northern part of India, have been dependent on staggered and unscheduled rail movement for their cargo going in and out of the country,” the carrier said.
“Delayed imports hamper production schedules while delayed exports pile up inventories for the manufacturers.”
The first service of the new rail service took place on the 18 April 2021 and was seen off by Freddy Svane, Denmark’s Ambassador to India.
Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia, manufacturing was “an extremely important building block” of India’s economy.
“As a service provider to this critical segment, our goal is to streamline their supply chains and offer highest levels of reliability” commented Vikash Agarwal, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia,” Agarwal said.
“With the ‘Automotive Express’, we are not only simplifying our automotive customers’ supply chains by offering integrated logistics solution that bundles ocean and landside transportation but are also driving cost and time efficiencies through precisely scheduled movement of their cargo.”
Sachin Bhanushali, Director & CEO, Gateway Rail Freight Ltd, said Gateway is excited to be working alongside Maersk in the ‘Automotive Express’ project.
“GatewayRail has been a pioneer in innovative intermodal services such as the ‘Ship to Rail Service’ and now the ‘Automotive Express’ and is proud to be the intermodal operator of choice for Maersk India.”
This new rail service runs from the Garhi Harsaru Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Gurugram to APM Terminals Pipavav Port for exports and return with import cargo.
It will have the capacity to move 180 TEU each way and will support more than 25 customers from one of the most important automotive manufacturing belts of India.
The customers booking their cargo on ‘Automotive Express’ will also have priority discharge from the port for higher reliability and to keep their supply chains on schedule.
The ‘Automotive Express’ will connect the cargo to Maersk’s ocean transportation services from APM Terminals Pipavav to North American as well as Far East and South East Asian markets on the MECL service for exports and FI3 and MECL services for imports.
With this new service, Maersk claims to be “taking a step forward towards strengthening its landside transportation offering” in India.
By connecting key manufacturing hubs and ports through a solid network of trucking, rail and depots, Maersk said it is “bringing a reliable and tailored solution” to its customers.
