Business, Feature, Freight News, Logistics

AV Dawson rail terminal open for business

[ January 31, 2013   //   Chris ]

North-east logistics operator AV Dawson has opened the first £2.6m phase of its Tees Riverside Intermodal Park (TRIP) on the banks of the River Tees. The terminal is the first phase of AV Dawson’s £10m infrastructure expansion and follows a 25% increase in its container business at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Park.

It offers a direct link to the East Coast Main Line as well as to Dawson’s existing freight facilities, which include its Ayrton Railhead, North Sea Supply Base and Dawson’s Wharf quays on the adjacent River Tees. The rail sidings can handle trains carrying up to 80 containers at any one time with 54,000 square metres of operational area and storage for up to 1,200 loaded containers.

Dawson has also gained AFSO accreditation to handle goods through the Channel Tunnel to and from mainland Europe.

The development has been part-funded by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, which has contributed £1.2m to the development.

On the adjacent riverside, piling works have begun the new £3.2m deepwater development which will increase quay depth from 4m to 8.5m and lengthen it by 150m.

AV Dawson has also purchased an additional six acres of Network Rail land next to the TRIP terminal to expand its container offering. Work on phase 2 of TRIP, including drainage and concrete surfacing, is also underway.

Gary Dawson, managing director of AV Dawson, said: “The new intermodal rail terminal is just one part of our extensive growth plans and it’s fantastic to see the vision we have for the company start to become a reality.

“The RGF funding will have a tremendous positive impact on our company, on the wider supply chain and make an important jobs contribution on Teesside.

“From our perspective, the terminal further strengthens our ability to move goods quickly and efficiently and save our customers money in the process.”

AV Dawson is also developing its subsea energy business.

Tags: AV Dawson, Tees Riverside Intermodal Park