‘Wine trains’ to deliver millions of imported wine this Christmas to combat shortage

UK retailers need not worry about wine shortage this festive season as a series of “wine trains” will be delivering millions of bottles of imported wine in the lead-up to Christmas this year.

As per reports today (10), dedicated weekly trains will run between now and Christmas Day to ensure shelves stay stocked with alcohol this festive season.

Normally, bottles of imported wine are supplied by lorries but due to heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers, freight trains are being used this year to avoid shortages.

Network Rail has ensured extra capacity for freight trains to transport some 4.5 million bottles from UK ports to shelves, the first of which, carrying an estimated 643,000 bottles, is reported to have left the port of Tilbury on Sunday (7) bound for a depot in Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Network Rail said it is also working with other freight carriers, ports and trade bodies to ensure Christmas food and other goods are delivered on time.

Line capacity is also being increased while the organisation is also working with operators to deliver longer, heavier trains in order to carry more goods at once.

Multiple operators have confirmed that they are working continuously to rule out any wine shortage in the UK around Christmas.

John Smith, chief executive of GB RailFreight, which is one of the operators helping to deliver goods, said the company is working “around the clock to safeguard Christmas deliveries”.

“We are moving more boxes than ever before because of the dedication of our people, as well as greater industry co-operation,” reports quoted Smith as saying.

Another operator, Freightliner, said: “We are working to provide supplemental weekend rail services to move goods in time for Christmas.

“We are discussing extending these weekend services throughout 2022 to drive more road traffic onto rail, which will help alleviate supply chain challenges.”

Back in September, wine giant Accolade, the owner of Hardys and one of the biggest wine companies in the world, had warned that external staff shortages – chiefly lorry drivers – could lead to Christmas shortages and price increases.

There have also been numerous reports of customers engaging in Christmas panic buying amid reports of expected product shortages around the festive season.