Work has begun on the extension to the South Rail Terminal at t Felixstowe. The existing terminal is being extended by 39 metres on all three lines, to accommodate 22 wagon trains (as opposed to the current 20 ), which will increase train volume capacity by ten per cent per year.
This expansion programme will result in two extra wagons per track, equivalent to 16,500 TEUs per year. The works are due for completion in May, before the delivery of a new rail-mounted gantry crane for the Terminal, from Zhenhua Port Machinery in China.
Chris Lewis, chief executive of Hutchison Ports (UK), which owns Felixstowe, said: “We are experiencing ever-increasing rail volumes, and must continue to develop and improve our facilities to meet customer expectations. We are committed to increasing the share of freight transported by rail through the Port, and the current undertakings will improve speed, reliability and service integrity for rail customers.”
In the long term, the terminal will benefit from two rail-mounted gantry cranes, supported by two reachstacker vehicles operating over the full length of the extended terminal.
