Tilbury Port in London is set to expand with the proposed development of Tilbury3, also known as T3. The large new multi-purpose facility will be located right next to an existing rail freight terminal. The project is being led by Forth Ports, the Edinburgh-based owners and operators of the port. The announcement comes as part of the wider Thames Freeport initiative, which Tilbury shares with the nearby London Gateway port, operated by DP World.
The T3 site is on brownfield land once occupied by Tilbury Power Station. The land is, however, at a slightly higher elevation than the existing port estate. That may make installing bespoke rail facilities difficult. However, the sidings at T2, which handle intermodal and bulk cargo, are adjacent to the west boundary of the site. Forth Ports is confident there is capacity to handle additional traffic. The T3 site, equivalent in size to 70 football pitches, will support Tilbury’s key industrial and logistics markets, according to the owners.
Multi-use facility to boost port and logistics capacity
According to Forth Ports, the 100-acre (41 hectares) T3 development has been designed to accommodate a wide range of uses by future clients. These include general industrial storage, warehousing, and processing; a construction material and aggregate terminal; container handling and storage; and vehicle storage. “This is an exciting time for the Port of Tilbury, part of our growth investment strategy to expand our operations in growth markets in renewable power, recycling and logistics, “ said Stuart Wallace, CEO of Forth Ports Group. “T3 will sustain existing roles and create many new jobs; contribute to the local economy; and future-proof the Port of Tilbury in supporting the economies of Greater London and the South East.”
All the intended uses suggested by Stuart Wallace lend themselves to rail forwarding. Tilbury is already a major aggregates hub, with two distinct rail-served aggregates facilities within the port estate. The port’s extensive rail layout is divided into two separate branches, served by two spurs, to the east and west of Tilbury Town station. Any future additional infrastructure for T3 would most likely utilise the eastern junction. “Plans to expand Tilbury3 will boost growth and create new, good value jobs for local people,” explained Martin Whiteley, CEO of Thames Freeport. “The new development at Tilbury will further support the Thames Freeport ambition to attract international investment and enable regeneration of local communities.”
Commuters versus construction traffic
The Port of Tilbury currently handles a variety of rail freight, including containers, bulk materials (like aggregates and construction materials), timber, paper, and automotive cargo. Daily freight services connect Tilbury with major inland terminals, including Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT), Birmingham and Manchester. Tilbury’s freight trains operate on the mixed-traffic London, Tilbury and Southend (LTS) line. Capacity on the LTS line is constrained, especially during peak commuter hours. However, ongoing coordination between Network Rail, Forth Ports, and freight operators helps balance demand.
The proposed T3 development could increase freight volumes, so future integration may depend on infrastructure upgrades or timetable adjustments to support more frequent or heavier freight traffic. Existing rail freight traffic from Tilbury includes multiple daily intermodal trips on behalf of supermarket chain Tesco, and scheduled intermodal workings that support shipping operations. Aggregates traffic for the HS2 high-speed rail project also originates from the port. Construction of Tilbury3 is expected to begin in 2026, with full operations targeted for 2030.
Additional reporting from our sister service, WorldCargo News.