Teesport rail service will boost Scotland's European trade connections

Shipping and logistics company PD Ports has launched a second rail service connecting Glasgow directly with a port in northern England, opening up further trade connections for Scotland.

Teesport's new rail service to Glasgow will provide connections for shippers, shipping lines and forwarders looking for efficient routes to and from Europe. Picture: Airfotos

The new rail service, operated by DB Cargo, will provide connections for shippers, shipping lines and forwarders looking for efficient routes to and from the European market.

It will run five days a week from the quayside at Teesport, North Yorkshire, to PD Stirling terminal at Mossend in Glasgow, coordinated with the timings of P&O Ferries calling daily at the port from Zeebrugge and Rotterdam.

The port now offers more direct daily connections to and from Scotland than any other in the north of England, running ten trains a week and carrying more than 30 shipping containers per journey each way.

Earlier this year, P&O Ferries increased its capacity on the service by 25 per cent in a response to market demand.

Frans Calje, chief executive at PD Ports, said: “Our second rail service to Scotland is a major milestone for Teesport and the wider Tees Valley. It symbolises the tremendous sense of confidence and trust global shippers have in the port to deliver peace of mind, unlike other congested UK and European hub ports.”

Calje added the frequency and reliability of the rail service “breeds trust and confidence amongst shippers that they can transport their goods from Europe to Scotland within a 36-hour period, minimising cost and carbon emissions”.

Andrew Stirling, MD at PD Stirling, added: “This is excellent news for Scottish importers and exporters. It not only provides vital daily rail connections to and from the continent through Teesport, it also provides support to Scotland’s manufacturing base.

“This growth in rail transport with Teesport has led to firm plans to expand our facilities and to launch the MIRP (Mossend International Rail Freight Park).”