Planning consent for the Tilbury3 (T3) development has been granted by the local administration, Thurrock Council. That will unlock a major rail-served logistics expansion at the port. Owner of the site, Edinburgh-based Forth Ports Group, says the 143-acre brownfield scheme will be integrated into the port’s existing freight rail network. That will help reinforce Tilbury’s position as one of the capital’s most important rail-connected maritime gateways.
The project redevelops the former Tilbury Power Station site and sits almost directly alongside the port’s current intermodal and bulk rail terminals (a nature and built heritage site separates the new terminal from the rest of the complex). Rail access is central to the design. The operator is signalling that future growth in containers, construction materials and automotive flows will be handled increasingly by train rather than road.
Rail connection at the core of the scheme
Forth Ports has confirmed Tilbury3 will be rail served, either through new on-site sidings or by expanding use of adjacent facilities at Tilbury2. The new zone lies immediately next to existing freight infrastructure, where intermodal, aggregates and general cargo trains already operate.
Tilbury’s internal rail layout is fed by two branches connecting to the London, Tilbury and Southend line (LTS), giving the port direct access to inland terminals, principally in the English Midlands and the North. Current flows include container services to Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, as well as bulk trains supplying major construction projects.
Aggregates and construction traffic key to rail volumes
Rail has long been central to Tilbury’s aggregates business, with multiple terminals handling imported stone, sand and cement for the London market. These heavy bulk flows are well suited to rail, and the T3 allocation for construction materials is expected to generate additional flows.
The port already dispatches trains linked to large infrastructure schemes, including high-profile projects such as HS2, the high-speed rail project. Additional land at Tilbury3 provides space for stockpiling, processing and loading, enabling longer trains and higher throughput as demand for rail-moved aggregates in the South East continues to rise.
Intermodal expansion and Freeport incentives
As part of the Thames Freeport, Tilbury3 is expected to attract distribution and manufacturing customers seeking rail-based supply chains. The proximity to London’s consumer market, combined with inland rail links, gives the port a competitive advantage for domestic container shuttles.
Intermodal services already connect Tilbury with logistics hubs in Birmingham, Manchester and the East Midlands. A larger rail-served footprint will allow higher lift volumes and the potential for new rail corridors.
Capacity constraints on the LTS corridor
Any rail growth will need to be balanced against capacity limits on the mixed-traffic LTS route, which carries intensive commuter services into London Fenchurch Street station. Freight paths require close coordination between Network Rail, operators and the port. However, Tilbury’s established rail timetable and the ability to stage trains within the port estate provide operational flexibility. Incremental infrastructure upgrades and careful pathing could accommodate additional T3 traffic without major network intervention.
Construction of Tilbury3 is expected to begin this year, with phased occupation and full operation targeted by the end of the decade. The development will support bulk, automotive and container markets, all sectors with strong rail potential. Forth Ports is positioning Tilbury to capture a larger share of London’s rail freight growth while reducing pressure on the capital’s road network.