The increased volumes follow a number of track and equipment improvements made over the past three years, including a 39-metre extension of the South Rail Terminal to accommodate 22-wagon trains, a major line refurbishment of the same terminal in 2008/9, and two state-of-the-art Rail-Mounted Gantry Cranes in 2010.
The port currently operates two open-access, common-user rail terminals and in 2012 will construct an all-new third rail terminal. Co-financed by the European Union from the Trans-European network budget, the new terminal will double rail capacity on the port. It will also be another first for the Port of Felixstowe; the first terminal in the UK designed and built to accommodate longer, 30-wagon, trains.
David Gledhill, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited (HPUK), which owns the Port of Felixstowe, commented:
“It is easy to celebrate reaching a specific number of containers being put through our rail terminals, but when we consider the implications of these moves port-wide, our achievement is even more impressive. Approximately one in every three of all containers that came through the port last week arrived or departed via rail, which is not only a huge environmental success, but also reflects the continually improving service provided by the port. The use of intermodal rail freight offers one of the best ways to make substantial carbon savings, and there are more rail services, to more inland destinations, more often, from Felixstowe than any other UK port.
"These volumes highlight customer confidence in the rail facilities at Felixstowe, consolidating our position as the port-of-choice for UK importers, and justifying beyond question the investments we have been making to improve the rail services available to all our customers.”
Last month, the Port of Felixstowe was named Business of the Year at the Rail Freight Group’s annual awards for the second time in three years, and also picked up the coveted Customer Care Award.
Rail freight services at Felixstowe are offered by Freightliner, GB Railfreight and DB Schenker. Daily connections are available to and from Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Cleveland, Birmingham, Doncaster, Tilbury, Selby, Hams Hall, Wakefield, Ditton (Widnes), Birch Coppice, Scunthorpe and Bristol.
