Feature, Freight News, Rail, Sea

Grangemouth gets a head for rail

[ December 10, 2020   //   Chris ]

Forth Ports’ Grangemouth is to make a £3 million investment in its rail head to create an extended dual rail siding of 775 metres – currently 200 metres – capable of handling the longest freight trains on the UK network. When operational early next year,  wull be able to offer enhanced intermodal options particularly for customers in the food, drink and perishables sectors.

Existing services link Grangemouth and its sister port in Tilbury on the Thames with a connection through Daventry. Construction of the new rail extension starts this month and is expected to handle its first train in January 2021.

Forth Ports says that with regular container ship calls into the port each week from mainland Europe and the South East of England, increased rail capacity will help to take trucks off the roads and lower customers’ carbon footprint.

The port also has on-site distribution warehouses with cross docking possibilities and is within a few miles of the main supermarket distribution centres within Central Scotland. 

Senior port manager Derek Knox, said: ““As the UK prepares to leave the EU Single Market and the Customs Union, the freight sector is looking at ways to maintain an efficient free flowing supply chain. With the new rail offering combined with our established port operations and streamlined customs processes, the freight hub we are creating provides a unique solution.  We have recently appointed a rail freight expert, Ian Wilson, to support our rail growth strategy and, coupled with our established rail links with our sister port in Tilbury, we are confident that rail customers will benefit significantly from both freight hubs.”

Tags: Forth Ports; Grangemouth; Tilbury