Direct Rail Service (DRS) launched a pilot connection from Teesport, on the English northeastern coast to Trafford Park in Manchester. The new service is “the first on this route to use the ultra-low IDA wagons, which allow the use of standard high-cube containers”, DRS stated.
The trains will run five days a week from the PD Ports terminal in Teesport along the Trans Pennine route, initially for 12 weeks. “This trial offers a new route to customers who may not have considered rail before”, said Gottfried Eymer, managing director for rail at DRS’ mother company Nuclear Transport Solutions.
Not waiting for the Trans Pennine upgrade
The Trans Pennine route is due for an upgrade expected to be completed by 2030. The current infrastructure comes with height constraints that do not allow all shippers to choose the railways. Thus, DRS decided to take matters into their own hands and launch a service with lower wagons. “We felt that was too long to wait when we considered the importance of rail freight”, said Jo Edmenson from PD Ports.