New rail service launched at Thamesport

Thamesport (London) has welcomed the start of a new rail service.

After an absence of 18 months from the Port, EWS Railway has returned to the Kent facility to launch its Thamesport to Daventry service. The service operates five days per week, and is able to offer capacity for high cube containers, in addition to standard units. Chris Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK), which owns Thamesport, said: 'It is important that we offer shippers a rail option through our ports, and this new service provides a boost to the range of destinations that are served by rail from Thamesport. We are committed to increasing the share of freight transported by rail through the Port, and we were pleased to reach a record throughput in 2007, with a total of 50,000 containers passing through the Port's rail terminal.' Importantly, expansion work to the Port's rail facility is due to commence in September 2008. This work will extend the rail terminal's sidings to allow 24-wagon-length trains to be worked without the need to break and shunt individual units. Three other services connect Thamesport to Birmingham, Leeds/Coatbridge, Manchester, Doncaster and Birch Coppice.
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