Response to UK Ports and Rail Steaming

By Jennifer Dunn

Comment on story UK Ports and Rail Steaming

The Port of Tyne is a deep river port on the north east coast and while our strength of operation lies in the fact that management of the supply chain is handled within the port by the port - containers to warehouse to distribution - and this one stop shop approach ensures goods are received and dispatched seamlessly and timely with the customer being kept fully aware on a daily basis, our location is ideal: a rail terminal that links directly to the UK's high speed east coast main line establishing a land bridge to the southern ports and Europe as well as the increasing number of customers in Scotland; a road link that links directly to the UK national motorway network; and, as a feeder port for medium size container vessels from Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Zeebrugge, Immingham and Grangemouth, customers save thousands of road miles using our supply chain management service. Moreover, we operate 24 hours/7 days a week/365 days a year.

In April 2008, having been short listed alongside major league players APM Terminals (The Netherlands), DP World, Port Said Port Authority and PSA International (Port of Singapore Authority) the Port of Tyne was named Port Operator of the Year, in the Lloyd's List London Awards.

For two consecutive years, the port has been awarded the accolade European Port of the Year by the prestigious Institute of Transport Management, which monitors standards in the motor transport industry; the first time this accolade has been given twice to the same port.

You may be interested in the following press release recently release by Network Rail:

Improving freight access to the Port of Tyne

High gauge container traffic is cleared to move in and out of the Port of Tyne for the first time after work completed by Network Rail.

A survey of key freight routes is being completed by Network Rail to allow ports around the country to move more container freight traffic by rail. While this is already possible on many routes, on others gauge clearance works are needed to ensure that the containers can fit under bridges, through stations and past other trackside structures.

This gauge clearance has now been confirmed on the route between the Port of Tyne and the East Coast Main Line at King Edward bridge south junction.

Warrick Dent, area general manager for Network Rail said: "Moving freight by rail has a number of advantages - not least in taking Lorries off the roads and reducing traffic. We are working closely with the ports around the north of England to respond to their needs and to help them develop their business on the railway. Further work is being completed on a number of routes - including the East Coast Mainline - to allow container traffic to move more freely around the network."

Matthew Hunt Commercial Manager at the Port of Tyne adds "Between 40-50 trains per week are handled at our bulk, automotive or intermodal rail facilities, this development will certainly improve efficiency, and with our well- established relationship with Network Rail we will continue to operate what has become a highly efficient rail terminus that benefits our customers and the region as a whole".

Jennifer Dunn
Press & Communications Officer, Port of Tyne

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com

   _   _