PD Ports has announced that it is partnering with Direct Rail Services (DRS) to launch the first Trans Pennine rail freight service, utilising a unique wagon that can transport high-cube boxes across areas of the UK previously inaccessible by rail.
The five-days-a-week service, which is planned for launch early 2025, will run from the PD Ports-owned terminal in Teesport to Manchester.
It will operate using ultra-low IDA wagons that are capable of carrying high-cube containers over non-gauge enhanced and height restricted routes, opening up almost the entire UK rail network to the larger boxes.
Previously, high-cube containers, which measure 9’6” in height compared with the standard 8’6”, could only be transported to such a wide area of the country by road rather than rail because of low bridges, tunnels and railway stations.
Geoff Lippitt, PD Ports’ Group Commercial and Strategy Director, said:
“We’re delighted that the first TransPennine rail service using these unique wagons will operate from our Teesport facility.
“This new service seeks to meet the demands of modern-day supply chains. High-cube containers enable customers to reduce their environmental impact and increase cost efficiencies thanks to the economies of scale offered by rail over road and the extra capacity offered by these larger containers compared with standard boxes.”
