Hull, England-based Neill & Brown Global Logistics has joined forces with Italian partner Sogedim to launch a new European road-sea-rail freight service. The joint venture connects the UK with Italy via Zeebrugge in Belgium, providing a lower-carbon alternative to road haulage on one of Europe’s busiest freight corridors.
The two companies have invested in specialist Huckepack trailers, enabling seamless transfer between road and rail. Six of the reinforced units have already entered service, with Neill & Brown trucks hauling them from Hessle, on the western edge of Hull, to Zeebrugge, where they are lifted onto trains bound for Italy.
Expanding sustainable options
Neill & Brown has a long history of serving the Italian market, offering daily timed deliveries by road. The company said the addition of a rail leg marks a major step in providing customers with sustainable transport options. Huckepack trailers, designed for intermodal operations, feature reinforced frames and secure loading points, allowing them to withstand the demands of both road and rail transport.
The use of Huckepack equipment means cargo can move across multiple modes without transhipment, reducing handling risks and improving reliability. The new service will target general goods, industrial products and retail consignments, complementing the company’s existing road and sea services. The launch highlights growing interest in rail freight as companies seek to lower their carbon footprint across all three scopes, while maintaining competitive delivery times.
Partnership with Sogedim
The initiative is underpinned by Neill & Brown’s collaboration with Italian logistics specialist Sogedim. Founded in 1984, Sogedim has grown into a nationwide operator with extensive distribution networks and intermodal services across Italy and beyond. The partnership brings together Sogedim’s domestic reach with Neill & Brown’s expertise in UK–continental trade.
“We have a superb relationship with Sogedim and believe this joint venture has great potential,” said Carl Andrew, logistics director at Neill & Brown (pictured above). “It is a major investment in an efficient and reliable mode of transport to and from one of our most popular destinations, and we are thrilled to see the delivery of these striking additions to our fleet.”
UK base on the Humber
Neill & Brown, based in Hessle on the Humber, has been in business for more than a century. It’s a well-established part of the industrial scene and is even recorded as part of British national heritage. The company operates extensive warehousing in Hull and the Humber region and provides in-house customs clearance and documentation services. Its portfolio includes worldwide sea and air freight, abnormal load transport and UK pallet distribution.
The Humber base provides easy access to the port of Hull, which serves as a gateway to northern Europe. The new service uses ferry connections from Hull to Zeebrugge, ensuring a direct link into continental Europe’s rail freight network. Zeebrugge recently benefited from a new rail route via Antwerp (as reported by WorldCargoNews.com). By leveraging existing infrastructure, the company can extend its reach while keeping transit times competitive with road.
Responding to customer demand
The rail initiative comes as customers increasingly look for lower-carbon supply chain solutions. By replacing long-distance road journeys with intermodal transport, Neill & Brown and Sogedim aim to reduce emissions while maintaining service levels. The company emphasised that reliability and flexibility remain at the heart of the offering.
“By taking advantage of the existing rail freight infrastructure on the UK–Italy route, we can now provide more choice to our customers, who are increasingly looking for less carbon-intensive haulage solutions,” added Karl Andrew. The service offers a lower-carbon solution for would-be customers, but it’s also a commercial opportunity for Neill & Brown to expand its operations in the North of England.