FEATURE
The rail thing – A gleaming locomotive at Port of Middlesbrough .
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Why outstanding rail links are key to AV Dawson ’ s Port of Middlesbrough ambitions
When you think of port logistics , your mind immediately gravitates towards ships and quayside operations .
However , extensive supporting infrastructure , such as warehousing and transport , also play a key factor in the smooth running of a port .
With more than 85 years of logistics experience , AV Dawson , owner and operator of Port of Middlesbrough , has built up extensive expertise in all things logistics .
With the future in mind , the business is expanding its Middlesbrough base , while also focusing on one of its key strengths as a port – its rail operations .
Rail has always been a fundamental part of operations at Port of Middlesbrough . In fact , it was the extension of the Stockton Darlington Railway in 1830 that resulted in the Middlesbrough branch line terminating at Port of Middlesbrough ( then called Port Darlington ), which resulted in the opening of the port and the birth of modern Middlesbrough .
Rail operations have played a key part in the business ’ offering since 1987 , when it diversified into the rail transport sector after purchasing British Steel ’ s Ayton Rolling Mill , positioning the firm as a significant rail-connected warehouse owner .
Fast-forward to 2023 , with a clear roadmap to net zero , AV Dawson is looking to harness the site ’ s extensive rail infrastructure to grow and develop the business in an environmentally efficient way .
After several investments in its rail facilities , with four combined rail terminals , all linked via Middlesbrough Goods Yard and directly to the East Coast Mainline , Port of Middlesbrough is now one of the largest independent rail terminals in the north of England .
Each terminal offers unique and marketspecific freight handling services , including bulk products such as aggregates and fertilisers , steel and containers . The site also boasts further rail-related assets including a 100-metre , rail-linked canopy providing storage and dry-loading capabilities for bulk products and a railconnected , climate-controlled automotive metals distribution centre to serve the region ’ s car industry .
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