The family-run port operator AV Dawson has confirmed a £5 million investment to construct a new dry bulk rail terminal at the Port of Middlesbrough. The project is billed as the company’s fifth rail terminal at its Tees-side logistics hub and is intended to strengthen rail freight operations for local and regional businesses.
What the new terminal will deliver
According to the company, the terminal will raise unloading speeds by around 40%, increasing throughput to 500 tonnes per hour. The scheme includes five dedicated rail lines and additional sidings feeding into a new unloading pit and conveyor system designed to link directly with quayside activities.
- Investment: £5 million
- Unloading speed target: 500 tonnes per hour (≈ 40% faster)
- Configuration: five rail lines plus extra sidings
- Site size: part of a 120-acre Middlesbrough logistics hub
Connectivity and local impact
AV Dawson emphasises the terminal’s multimodal benefits, pointing to direct access to the East Coast Main Line and nearby trunk roads including the A19 and A1. The rail link to quayside operations is intended to streamline rail-to-port transhipment and support both domestic and international trade flows that use the Port of Middlesbrough.
“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.”
The comment was made by Charlie Nettle, AV Dawson’s group managing director. The company frames the development as part of an ongoing expansion of its multimodal logistics hub, aimed at unlocking supply-chain opportunities for freight businesses across the North East.
Delivery partners and next steps
The delivery of the project is being carried out alongside other family-run contractors, including Seymour Construction from Hartlepool and Atherton M. AV Dawson says the terminal will expand capacity for dry bulk customers while supporting movement of freight by road, rail and sea.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Investment | £5 million |
| Unloading speed | 500 tonnes per hour (c. 40% increase) |
| Rail lines | Five, plus additional sidings |
| Site | Part of 120-acre logistics hub |
For Middlesbrough and Teesside the terminal represents an incremental strengthening of port infrastructure that could reduce road miles for bulk freight, improve journey reliability and make the area more attractive to shippers. Council and business leaders will watch closely for the scheme’s effects on jobs, local supply chains and modal shift from road to rail as the development progresses.
