Longer trains and extra capacity. It marks a new phase in Teesport’s Scottish freight operations. PD Ports is recasting its intermodal rail links between Teesport and Scotland. The operator at the intermodal port is launching what it calls a new “jumbo” service to meet growing demand for sustainable logistics. The revised operation, developed in partnership with DB Cargo UK and Network Rail, will combine existing flows to Mossend and Grangemouth into a single daily service with longer trains and additional capacity.
The company states that the changes will enhance Teesport’s position as a key gateway between Scotland’s industrial heartlands and global markets. It will, according to PD Ports, provide shippers with greater flexibility and more frequent rail departures in both directions.
One train, two terminals means more space and frequency
The new “jumbo” operation adds two wagons to each train. That, says PD Ports, will increase weekly capacity by around forty container slots. PD Ports states that longer trains and a daily frequency will enable customers to “drip feed” consignments, rather than relying on road-based trunking to consolidate loads. “Scottish businesses have long relied on dependable logistics to connect them with global markets,” the company said. “Now PD Ports is making that connection even stronger.”
Until now, separate services have run between Teesport and Scotland’s two main intermodal hubs. Under the revised pattern, each train will call at both Mossend and Grangemouth. They’ll be able to serve the Central Belt’s principal freight markets in a single working. “For more than fifteen years, PD Ports has recognised the importance of connecting Teesport’s shipping lines with Scotland’s industrial heartlands,” said the company. “Distilleries, retailers, manufacturers and chemical producers depend on smooth, reliable supply chains. Teesport has been their gateway.”
Demand drives the expansion
PD Ports says the move follows consistently strong volumes on both Scottish routes, prompting trials with Network Rail and DB Cargo UK to authorise longer trains. “The result,” says the company, “is a new sixteen-wagon jumbo train – two wagons longer than before – offering forty additional slots per week.”
Jo Edmenson, Business Development Manager at PD Ports, said the design of the service reflected direct customer feedback. “We’ve listened carefully to our clients. They want reliability, sustainability and flexibility. A service that can handle daily volumes without reverting to road.”
Timetable to follow
Although bookings are now open, the final timetable has yet to be confirmed. A PD Ports spokesperson said that the operational details are being finalised with partners, but the necessary train paths have been secured. “It’s 100% firm and ready to share within the next couple of weeks,” they said. “This is an amalgamation of both services, combining them to create one Scotland service.”
The new connection will continue to run between Teesport and the two Scottish terminals – Grangemouth, the country’s leading short-sea port, and Mossend, a purpose-built logistics hub near Glasgow. Together, they should launch the planned new phase in PD Ports’ strategy to build greener, higher-frequency rail freight links across Britain. “Alongside added-value services, our rail freight offering increases efficiency and reduces environmental impact through fully integrated, multi-modal infrastructure,” PD Ports stated.