Brexit Logjams Force Freight Trains to Leave Goods at Port
- Cargo carriers forgo full loads to avoid performance fines
- Unused capacity adds to signs of strain in U.K. supply chain
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U.K. freight trains are being forced to leave the country’s biggest container port without a full load, in the latest sign that stockpiling to prepare for Britain’s break with the European Union is disrupting supply chains already strained by the coronavirus outbreak.
Some trains normally packed with everything from phones to the latest fashions are departing Felixstowe east of London without a portion of their consignments, in order to keep to allocated time slots and avoid performance fines, according to a person familiar with the situation who asked not to be named. Heavy volume combined with some delayed shipments have overwhelmed the port’s ability to keep up with container transfers.