Teesport celebrates rail anniversary

(Posted on 27/11/18)

PD Ports is celebrating the fourth anniversary of Teesport Intermodal Rail Terminal, which has cemented the port and the wider Tees Valley region as a truly global gateway to the UK since opening on the 15th November 2014.

Seeing considerable growth in containers year-on-year, PD Ports launched the £3M Teesport Intermodal Rail Terminal with services to Felixstowe and Southampton, expanding the Port’s hinterland.

Four years on, using rail to move goods around the county continues to be important in order to help alleviate the over-burdened UK road network and chronic HGV driver shortage whilst helping customers reduce carbon emissions and cut costs in their supply chains.

Demand for rail has grown and to support this PD Ports has added two Scottish services at Teesport, the latest arriving at the Port in the last month following overwhelming popularity of the first. This second service opens up further opportunities to connect importers and exporters with the north of the UK.

Frans Calje, PD Ports’ Chief Executive Officer, commented: “In 2014, we made a bold move in launching a rail freight terminal at Teesport. With an increasing need for intermodal transport in the UK, the rail terminal has grown in popularity and we’ve invested our time into establishing further connections to support our customers’ supply chains.

“Now we are the leading rail hub in the north for European and global exporters and importers trading with the north, providing frequent, reliable and cost-effective rail links direct from Teesport.

“The introduction of our second rail service to Scotland this year is a major milestone for Teesport and the wider Tees Valley and it symbolises the tremendous sense of confidence and trust shippers have in the Port.

“As we continue our efforts to grow Teesport’s rail platform, we’re looking forward to seeing the progress Network Rail alongside Tees Valley Combined Authority make in creating easier access for rail freight towards the South concentrating on the gauge clearance issues currently faced between Eaglescliffe and Northallerton.”