It’s the return of the commercial cargo trains! A multi-million-dollar expansion program and increased imports and exports have brought a bright future to the Port of Sunderland. Read on to learn more.
The Return of the Cargo Trains
There’s been an absence of cargo trains at Port Sunderland for nearly two decades. That all changed when a class 60 engine pulling 21 wagons made its debut at the port earlier this year. The cargo wagons were filled with steel coils, imported for Marcegaglia, one of the world’s largest steel trading companies. Each wagon contained six steel coils weighing up to fifteen tons each. It was quite the haul for a port that hasn’t seen anything like this in quite some time! The year had already been record-setting for Port Sunderland. And over the course of the development, known as “Trinity–Rail, Road & Sea”, eleven acres of the Port will be transformed.
What Trinity will Offer
Just west of the port, Trinity will offer lots of advantages to investors. In its final phase of work, programs focused on the east side of the port were completed. More freight trains are expected by the end of the year. Hopefully, freight rail services will become a regular offering as the hub develops. While discussing these latest developments, Matthew Hunt, Director of the Port of Sunderland, said this: “It’s fantastic to see cargo trains once again operating from the Port of Sunderland. The city council, alongside the Northeast Local Enterprise partnership, have invested over £8 million in road and rail improvements at the Port in recent years and we are delighted to see this investment bearing fruit.”
As the cargo trains roll in, as does the cargo, we’ll keep you updated on the exciting developments at this Port.