Serving the Teesside Business Community | 73
“PD Ports is providing further vital
investment in the region by opening up
frequent, efficient and flexible transport
routes for international trade.”
PD Ports’ Teesside-Scotland rail service can
cater for more then 30 containers per journey.
Leading the way - Teesport now offers more
direct daily connections to and from Scotland
than any other port in the north of England.
travelling on this service will be volume
from the daily P&O Ferries service from
Zeebrugge. Earlier this year P&O Ferries
increased its capacity on this service by 25%
in a response to market demand for Teesport
as the port of choice to connect shippers
with Scotland.
Rail is a tough nut to crack, with
investment decisions taking years to
materialise and often at a rate out of line
with the demanding and unforgiving world of
logistics where market requirements change
daily. This was a bold move but a necessary
one according to PD Ports CEO Frans Calje.
“Rail is crucial to moving freight around the
country and its importance is increasing as
customers look to move goods quicker, more
cost-effectively and in an environmentally
friendly way,” says Frans.
“One train fully loaded can take 30 HGVs
off the road, and with the current HGV driver
shortage in the UK standing at 45,000 drivers
and set to increase once we leave the EU,
it makes absolute sense to invest in and
capitalise on all modes of transport available
to us.
“Customers want assurance and choice.
At Teesport we can offer that both through
our own road transport fleet, port-side rail
connections and extensive European sailing
connections, which we pride ourselves on.
“Our second rail service to Scotland is a
major milestone for Teesport and the wider
Tees Valley.
“It symbolises the tremendous sense of
confidence and trust global shippers have
in the port to deliver peace of mind, unlike
other congested UK and European hub ports.
“Frequency and reliability is fundamental
to the success of our customers’ existence.
We have vessels arriving at Teesport from the
Baltics every 30 hours and every 48 hours
from Poland with direct rail connections from
the quayside to Scotland twice a day, five
days a week.
“This frequency breeds trust and
confidence amongst shippers that they
can transport their goods from Europe to
Scotland within a 36-hour period, minimising
cost and carbon emissions.”
Janette Bell, chief executive at P&O
Ferries, says: “Our customers will benefit
greatly from the increased connectivity
which this second rail link to Scotland will
give Teesport. In tandem with our highly cost-
efficient 15-hour sailings to the continent, we
can guarantee both exporters and importers
an unrivalled service to and from northern
Britain.”
Andrew Stirling, managing director at PD
Stirling, comments: “This is excellent news
for Scottish importers and exporters. It not
only provides vital daily rail connections to
and from the continent through Teesport,
it also provides support to Scotland’s
manufacturing base.
“This growth in rail transport with Teesport
has led to firm plans to expand our facilities
and to launch the Mossend International Rail
Freight Park.”
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen adds:
“Strong transport links are essential for a
strong economy and this new service is
fantastic news for PD Ports and the whole of
Tees Valley.
“Teesport is one of the deepest water
ports on the East Coast of England and its
facilities connect our industries to the world.
“It’s already an attractive prospect and an
invaluable resource which has been made
even better by this announcement, especially
in ensuring we’re an outward-looking, global
region able to take advantage of all the
opportunities of Brexit.”
David Coppock, North-East region director
for Northern Powerhouse, Department for
International Trade, adds: “This new service
is further proof of how significant and
important Teesport is to the Tees Valley in
expanding its global reach.
“PD Ports is providing further vital
investment in the region by opening up
frequent, efficient and flexible transport
routes for international trade.”
The second service into Scotland is a
clear demonstration of PD Ports’ continued
commitment to developing a truly multimodal
logistics platform at Teesport with the ability
to support future growth in international
trade and the delivery of government plans
to rebalance trade through the Northern
Powerhouse.
Teesport continues to see considerable
growth year-on-year in container handling and
saw an overall volume increase higher than
any other UK port in 2017.