By Martin Walker
A Teesside firm which has created a Newton Aycliffe base is investing £3m in a new rail terminal as global rail freight specialist Freightliner is set to move to Teesport.
The construction of a new, open access rail terminal by PD Ports will start this month, and once complete will welcome the new intermodal connections from Teesport to Felixstowe and Southampton.
Opportunities for the establishment of further new routes to Scotland, the Midlands and the North West are expected in line with market demand.
The establishment of the new rail terminal is the next major phase in PD Ports’ wider ongoing investment at Teesport and follows on from the £16.7m container terminal expansion development in 2011.
This latest investment further cements Teesport’s position as the UK’s leading provider of portcentric logistics, offering greater operational flexibility, improved efficiencies for customers.
As revealed on Aycliffe Today in June, PD Ports opened a project and commercial office on Aycliffe Business Park.
The firm’s CEO David Robinson said: “We are delighted to announce that Freightliner will support the new rail terminal at Teesport.
“We have invested significantly in expanding the intermodal services available at the port and the arrival of Freightliner will provide a greater level of service options, as well as improve our portcentric capability for our customers.“
Freightliner Managing Director Adam Cunliffe added: “Freightliner has a long established site at Wilton with a dedicated and committed workforce.
“Unfortunately we have found it increasingly difficult to attract volume through the site in the face of a strong feeder alternative via Teesport.
“Volume levels through Wilton have reduced substantially during the recession and the site can no longer compete effectively as it requires an additional road shunt to rival containers that move directly through Teesport.
“The move to Teesport will increase the opportunity for containers to be moved by rail following completion of the exciting investment by PD Ports.“
Freightliner will switch its existing services from Wilton to Teesport once the terminal is complete.
