Est. 1996. One contact per shipment, every time.
Est. 1996. One contact per shipment, every time.
Rail Freight Italy to UK
Plexus Freight is a one-stop shop for rail freight from Italy to the UK, combining road collection, rail transit across Europe and road delivery into a single movement. Transit takes 4 to 6 days. 1 named contact manages every stage. B2B commercial cargo only.
HOW IT WORKS
A single forwarding instruction to our Portishead team covers collection, rail transit, customs documentation and final delivery to your destination.
Rail Freight Routes.
Our intermodal rail freight service operates on three primary lanes: Spain to the UK, Italy to the UK, and China to the UK, with regular departures, competitive rates, and reliable transit times for commercial cargo.
Plexus Freight is a one-stop shop for rail freight from China to the UK, combining road collection, rail transit via the Asia corridor and road delivery into a single movement. Transit takes 18 to 25 days. 1 named contact manages every stage. B2B commercial cargo only.
The right freight mode depends on your delivery deadline, cargo volume and budget.
POST-BREXIT COMPLIANCE
Every multimodal door-to-door movement arranged by our Portishead team includes customs coordination exclusively alongside your transit. It is filed via our trusted third-party agents at Felixstowe, so you do not need a separate customs broker.
CDS export declarations are coordinated alongside your physical shipment before your cargo reaches the UK border.
UK import customs entries are coordinated via our dedicated Felixstowe partners at the point of arrival. No separate instruction required from your side.
Where goods qualify for zero tariff under trade agreements, our team identifies and applies the preference exclusively for the cargo movements we manage.
COST, LIABILITY AND INSURANCE
Pricing, carrier liability and cargo insurance explained before your movement is booked.
Rail freight pricing depends on the route, the container or unit type, the cargo weight and volume, and applicable surcharges. European rail movements are typically priced per container or per unit. Asia-to-UK rail movements are priced per container on the rail trunk, with road collection and delivery priced separately as part of the door-to-door rate. Unit rate: the base freight charge for loading and moving the 45ft intermodal unit from the European rail terminal to the UK railhead. Quoted per movement and confirmed before departure.Fuel surcharge: applied as a percentage of the base rate and adjusted periodically in line with diesel and energy costs. Our Portishead team confirms the current surcharge at the time of quotation.Collection and delivery: the road haulage cost for collecting your cargo at the European origin and delivering it from the UK railhead to your premises. Included in the full door-to-door quotation our team provides.
Carrier liability for international rail freight is governed by the COTIF-CIM Convention for movements within the European rail network. Liability is limited to a set rate per kilogram of gross weight and is typically well below the commercial value of most cargo. For Asia-to-UK rail movements, liability varies depending on the carrier and the rail corridor used. At current exchange rates, 17 SDR equates to approximately £17 to £18 per kilogram, depending on the SDR rate at the time of the claim. For a 5,000 kg consignment, the maximum the carrier is obligated to pay under CIM is approximately £85,000 to £90,000, regardless of the actual commercial value of the goods.
Our Portishead team advises on the carrier liability position for your specific lane and container type before your movement is booked. Understanding your liability exposure before the cargo moves allows you to make an informed decision on cargo insurance.
Yes. Carrier liability limits under COTIF-CIM and the applicable rail conventions are set at levels that do not cover the full commercial value of most cargo. All-risks cargo insurance covers the full declared commercial value of your goods against loss or damage during transit, including during road collection and road delivery at each end of the multimodal movement.
Our Portishead team recommends all-risks cargo insurance for every rail freight and multimodal consignment. Ask for a cargo insurance quote when you enquire and we will include it in the same response.
Common questions about rail freight and multimodal forwarding from Portishead.
Multimodal rail freight combines road collection, rail transit and road delivery into a single door-to-door movement. Your goods are collected by road from your supplier, moved by rail for the main distance, and delivered by road to your named address. Customs documentation is coordinated as part of the transit. One named contact at Portishead manages the complete movement.
Rail freight transit time depends on your origin and the corridor used. Europe-to-UK multimodal rail freight typically takes 3 to 7 days door-to-door, depending on the collection region and the rail routing used. Asia-to-UK rail freight typically takes 18 to 25 days, considerably faster than sea freight at 25 to 38 days and considerably lower in cost per kilogram than air freight at 3 to 5 working days. Our Portishead team confirms the exact transit time for your specific origin and destination before your movement is booked.
Europe-to-UK multimodal rail freight transit times vary by origin. Germany and Poland typically achieve 3 to 5 days door-to-door. France and Italy are typically 4 to 6 days. Our Portishead team confirms the specific transit time for your origin and destination before your movement is booked.
Customs documentation is coordinated as part of every door-to-door movement our Portishead team arranges. For European movements, post-Brexit export and import declarations are coordinated at the appropriate stages. For Asia-to-UK rail, import clearance at the UK entry point is coordinated via our Felixstowe partners as part of the same movement. You do not need a separate customs broker.
We arrange rail freight movements using 20ft containers, 30ft containers, 45ft containers and 45ft curtain-sided units. Equipment selection depends on your cargo type, dimensions and the rail services available on your specific lane. Our Portishead team advises on the right unit type at the enquiry stage.
Excellent
131 reviews on
Trustpilot
Businesses across the UK trust our B2B commercial logistics team to move their freight. Here is what they say.
FROM THE PLEXUS JOURNAL
Customs updates and trade compliance, written by the Plexus team in Portishead. Practical. No jargon.
