AV Dawson has announced a £5 million investment in a new dry bulk rail terminal at the Port of Middlesbrough, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Teesside and creating additional capacity to support UK manufacturers, importers, and exporters.
The family-run business, which owns and operates the Port of Middlesbrough on the River Tees, is expanding its multimodal logistics hub by developing its fifth rail terminal to unlock valuable supply chain opportunities for North East freight businesses, enabling them to engage more easily with national and international clients.
The new facility will expand the company’s rail freight capabilities, increasing capacity for customers and supporting the efficient movement of freight by road, rail and sea. With direct access to the East Coast Main Line, as well as key road links via the A19 and A1, the site offers excellent connectivity. The rail network also provides a direct connection to the port’s quayside operations, enabling seamless rail-to-port transhipment supporting both UK and international trade.
The project is being delivered alongside two other family-run businesses, Seymour Construction from Hartlepool and Atherton Material Handling. Construction includes a new unloading pit, rail line, bespoke conveyor system and dedicated storage warehouse. A new concrete loading pad will provide customers with both indoor and outdoor storage options.
Charlie Nettle, Group Managing Director at AV Dawson, said:
“For more than 85 years, we’ve invested in Teesside, continually evolving to meet our customers’ changing needs. This latest investment reflects our confidence in the region, our people and the future growth of rail logistics.
“Our fifth rail terminal strengthens our multimodal offering by expanding our presence in the dry bulk market and reinforces our commitment to delivering integrated logistics solutions across road, rail, land and sea.”
The facility will increase unloading speeds by 40% to 500 tph, significantly increasing capacity and improving overall operational efficiency. The terminal will also feature five rail lines, with additional rail sidings to feed rail wagons into the new unloading pit and conveyor system.
As the owner of the largest independent rail freight facility in the North East, AV Dawson has made its latest investment to enable innovation in its 120-acre, Middlesbrough-based logistics hub and provide efficient, sustainable solutions for its customers.
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