A new Logistics Gateway to Europe from Port of Workington
The Port of Workington in Cumbria is working with DRS, the UK’s leading national rail freight operator and TDG, one of Europe’s leading supply chain specialists, to open up a new containerized end-to-end logistics option at the North West Port.
This collaboration will develop the port into a significant container and logistics hub for the UK’s North West region.
One of the particular strengths of the port is its integral part in a new container service route that will include Rotterdam, Belfast/Dublin and Workington, details of which are currently being finalised.
Last November, Port of Workington secured expansion investment of £4.0 million from Nuclear Management Partners alongside £1.7 million from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority via the Britain's Energy Coast initiative. It has already installed a new harbour mobile crane to enable it to handle large shipping containers from all over Europe, and continues to improve its infrastructure.
“This collaboration will make it far easier for our customers to access all transportation modes around the port,” says Colin Sharpe, Business Development Manager at Port of Workington. “They will just have a single point of contact, whether they need rail, road or sea transport. We’re taking port-centric logistics very seriously indeed.”
David Barron, International Services Director at TDG says, “It’s a great opportunity to utilise the expertise of all three companies to create the optimum service for international customers. TDG will be pivotal in providing forwarding/facilitation to a seamless flow throughout the supply chain”.
“Our track record at the Ports of Teesside, Tilbury, Dagenham, Felixstowe and Bilbao coupled with our growing international services portfolio demonstrates our skill levels in this area”.
“We are looking forward to being able to forge growth and a sustainable future for the new services at the Port of Workington”.
“DRS is delighted to be working together with the Port of Workington and TDG to bring port centric logistics to the North West region,” says Neil McNicholas, Managing Director for DRS. “The introduction of the lowliner wagons by DRS along with the recent investment at the Port of Workington will open up opportunities for the area. Working together is the way forward in providing a premium logistics solution to the market place”.
About Port of Workington
The Port of Workington is one of the largest ports in Cumbria and aspires to be a significant hub for the North West. Serving the region's industry and agriculture, it has the potential to supply most of the major manufacturing and processing businesses in the region.
It is a key investment project of Britain's Energy Coast, with the funding provided by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA and Nuclear Management Partners (NMP). It comes in addition to the £4m being spent on repairing the port's infrastructure, which was damaged in the floods of November 2009.
NDA are contributing £1.7m which will be used for infrastructure improvements at the Port, which will both improve the overall capability of the Port and help attract further investment.
NMP are contributing £4 million for the scheme, which will be used to create a new container handling facility, including the installation of a new harbour crane to enable the port to handle large shipping containers from all over Europe.
The arrival of the crane, extensive improvements to the Port's facilities and the introduction of a weekly scheduled feeder container service, will provide a truly sustainable logistics option for businesses in Cumbrian and beyond. The changes will see the Port become a major player in the European logistics arena.
About DRS
Direct Rail Services (DRS) is a national rail freight operator providing a comprehensive range of services complete with a 24 hour control centre and engineering support with offices and depots span across the country.
DRS extends the reputation of a safe, secure and reliable service to its expanding freight market by providing specialist, general and domestic intermodal freight along with third party maintenance, asset hire and special passenger train operations.
