Sponsor Partners

Associated British Ports

One of the UK’s leading ports group, Associated British Ports (ABP) owns and operates 21 ports in England, Scotland, and Wales, and handles approximately a quarter of the country’s seaborne trade. ABP’s 21 ports, together with the other transport-related businesses that constitute the ABP group, form a UK-wide network capable of handling every conceivable type of cargo.  ABP is backed by investment in modern facilities and equipment, and supported by experienced staff.  The group’s other activities include rail terminal operations (Hams Hall), ship’s agency, dredging (UK Dredging Ltd), and marine consultancy (ABPmer).  Each port also offers a well-established community of port service providers.

Colas Rail

Colas Rail is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of railway infrastructure services, constructing and renewing all forms of railways across Europe and the UK.

Our aim is to be the partner of choice for all aspects of rail infrastructure solutions by leading by our values.

We already have an impressive portfolio of award winning work. The size and strength of our capabilities means we can deliver truly integrated solutions.

At Colas Rail we look outwards to our customers seeing things from their point of view.

We respect their view, respond to their suggestions and are proactive in anticipating their needs. We are creative, innovative and collaborative in our approach and we aim to always exceed the expectations of our customers and partners.

We are committed to delivering on our promise, to our employees, the people we work with, our customers and all our stakeholders. We strive for excellence and have a passion for success in all that we do.

DB Cargo UK

DB Cargo UK is the country’s largest rail freight operator. We operate trains which deliver everything from construction materials to build houses to finished vehicles; we transport bulk materials and containerised goods to support manufacturing and retail supply chain across the UK. We also deliver services to maintain the rail infrastructure network throughout the UK. Every day we strive to deliver reliable and sustainable services by putting our customers at the centre of all we do. We value our people; we invest in our assets and respect the planet, and we are leading the next generation of rail freight as we embrace innovation and new technologies. It’s our people, our operational expertise and customer focus which makes us first choice for rail freight in the UK

Direct Rail Services

Direct Rail Services (DRS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Since its formation in 1995, DRS has developed a solid business base through the provision of robust, innovative and bespoke transport services to customers within the nuclear industry. In combination with selected non-nuclear related customers who demand the highest levels of performance, DRS have established an unrivalled reputation for delivering to the most exacting standards.

2017 saw the introduction of the new dual power, Class 88 Locomotive which sets a new standard for performance, flexibility & economy on the UK network.  Building on the Class 68 which has given the rail industry unparalleled performance and reliability, the Class 88 will lead the way in locomotive technology for many years to come.

Forth Ports

Forth Ports is a dynamic UK-based multimodal ports owner and operator. Our ports are strategically positioned and serve as logistical gateways across the UK. We offer businesses a wide range of diverse, port-related services, and help connect the UK with Europe and the rest of the world.

Forth Ports owns and operates eight commercial ports on the Firth of Forth, the Firth of Tay and the Thames: Tilbury (London), Grangemouth, Dundee, Leith (Edinburgh), Rosyth, Methil, Burntisland, Kirkcaldy.

We offer high levels of handling and logistic-related services to customers who are looking for solutions to move goods cost effectively and efficiently, and provide warehousing and storage facilities.

Within and around the Firths of Forth and Tay, Forth Ports manages and operates an area of 280 square miles of navigable waters, including two specialised marine terminals for oil and gas export. We deliver high levels of professionalism in ship handling, pilotage, navigation, conservancy and towage.

The Port of Tilbury is home to the London Container Terminal, the only terminal servicing both short-sea and deep-sea customers; and the London Distribution Park, a 70 acre development just outside the gates of the port, a project being carried out in conjunction with strategic developers, Roxhill.

Forth Ports offers key berthing facilities to cruise operators at our London and Edinburgh ports – www.capitalcruising.co.uk and www.londoncruiseterminal.com.

Freightliner

Freightliner, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W), is an established award-winning rail freight haulier, operating across the UK, Continental Europe and the Middle East.  Offering customers a wide range of rail freight solutions to cater for the requirements of a diverse market sector, Freightliner provides a safe, reliable and cost-effective rail freight partnership. As a leading provider of intermodal and bulk freight haulage, with depots and terminals spread nationwide, Freightliner operates services across the entire UK rail network as well as offering rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance solutions.  Setting new standards of reliability, flexibility and customer service, Freightliner continues to invest in locomotive technology, wagons and terminal infrastructure to provide the quality of service that our customers expect.

Hutchison Ports

As well as being the largest container port in the UK, handling in excess of 4 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent units) annually, the Port of Felixstowe is also the country’s largest intermodal rail freight terminal offering more intermodal rail services, to more inland destinations, than any other UK port. Sixty-six freight train movements per day are handled at the Port’s three intermodal terminals with over 1 million TEU passing through the facility in 2017. The Port of Felixstowe is part of Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd which also includes Harwich International, one of the UK’s leading multi-purpose facilities and London Thamesport.

Malcolm Rail

An integral part of Malcolm Logistics, Malcolm Rail offers daily round trip Anglo-Scottish services between DIRFT, Mossend and Grangemouth. Our three terminals offer secure loaded and empty container storage. Our road and rail services offer totally integrated supply chain solutions including over five million sq ft of warehousing which is largely bonded and rail connected.

Maritime Transport

Maritime Transport is here to support and streamline your supply chain. Approach us to help you with your challenges, with years of experience and one of the largest and most diverse operations in the UK we are confident there is no problem we cannot solve – however large or small.

–     24/7 operations from key locations

–     Connected to every major UK Port

–     Guaranteed vehicle resource at every UK rail hub through our fleet of 1,500 vehicles

–     Over 13,000 TEU of empty and loaded storage across the UK

As a privately-owned business we are able to quickly adapt and invest in new opportunities.

PD Ports

PD Ports is one of the UK’s major port groups with a reputation for excellence gained from decades of experience and a highly skilled workforce. With headquarters in the north of England, PD Ports operates from locations across the UK. Teesport, owned and operated by PD Ports, has rail connections to Felixstowe and Scotland calling at its onsite intermodal rail terminal.

Port of Sunderland

Positioned at the heart of the North East coastline, Port of Sunderland is just five minutes from open sea providing a gateway to the world.

Positioned at the heart of the North East coastline, Port of Sunderland is just five minutes from open sea providing a gateway to the world. Its accessibility from sea teamed with excellent road, rail and air links, makes the port ideally placed for import and export projects.

Continual investment, coupled with proven experience of specialist cargos such as crane pieces and oil and gas equipment, mean that the port is in an ideal position to take advantage of its natural strengths and ensure the region’s exporting forces are well-supported.

With a progressive management team and fully flexible, well-trained and highly qualified workforce, the port provides a versatile offer for established and potential customers.

The harbour channel, between the outer piers and west end of Corporation Quay, has been dredged to a depth of 7.50m LAT, with a depth of 8.50m LAT at Corporation Quay itself).  

Reliance should not be placed solely upon published data regarding water depths since it is subject to siltation. Where appropriate, advice should be sought from the harbour master.

Porterbrook

Porterbrook Leasing Company specialises in the leasing of all types of railway rolling stock and associated equipment.

By providing freight and train operating companies with modern rolling stock they can be assured of high standards of reliability and performance from their fleets. Passengers can also benefit from comfortable services and the latest technology.

With many new operators now active in the UK Rail market, different perspectives to service provision have emerged. Whether operators are seeking a fleet that is provided to them service-ready each day, or whether they prefer to retain in-house responsibility for daily maintenance, Porterbrook offers a range of lease options to suit the full spectrum of requirements. This support extends to third party suppliers, and, Porterbrook has developed strong relationships with material suppliers to manage commercial aspects on behalf of its customers. Similarly, if engineering modifications are required, Porterbrook is ideally placed to implement improvements. Porterbrook’s Business Philosophy is to offer a full range of Rolling Stock Leasing Products tailored to meet its customer’s particular needs. The Company also has a genuine commitment to play its part in the development of a safe, efficient and reliable UK Railway Network.

In April 1994, Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited (Porterbrook) bought approximately one third of British Rail’s rolling stock with leases in place with the newly created passenger train operators.

Following a Management and Employee buyout in January 1996 Porterbrook was sold to Stagecoach in August of the same year. In April 2000 Porterbrook was then bought by Abbey National Treasury Services and in December 2008 was sold to a consortium of investors.

In October 2014 the Porterbrook Group of companies was acquired by a consortium of investors including Alberta Investment Management Corporation (“AIMCo”), Allianz Capital Partners (“ACP”) on behalf of certain insurance companies of the Allianz Group, EDF Invest and Hastings Funds Management.

Porterbrook’s investment to date in the UK rail markets totals to £2.7 billion in new trains and over £300 million on existing fleet refurbishment, resulting in:

• 2,300 state-of-the-art new passenger vehicles
• Over 2,000 new freight vehicles
• Extensive fleet modernisation, upgrade and refurbishment programmes
• Equipment leased to UK Train Operating Companies and UK
• Freight Companies
• Development of eco-friendly technologies
• Graduate training, bringing dynamic new professionals into the UK rail industry

Porterbrook’s aim in the coming years is to not only continue with investment in new trains and associated equipment for the UK rail industry but to also improve reliability, availability, maintainability and safety characteristics by working closely with the freight operators, train operators and suppliers to identify opportunities.

Touax Rail

Touax Rail Ltd is the second largest lessor of intermodal railcars in Europe, which currently manages a varied range of more than 10 500 wagons/platforms, such as intermodal, car- and coil – carrying, sliding wall wagons, hopper and powder railcars for transporting heavy goods.

Victa Railfreight

Victa Railfreight provides a wide range of operational & logistics services to rail freight operators, customers and suppliers. We hold a UK wide Freight Train Operators Licence specifically aimed at achieving efficiencies and providing new business opportunities in collaboration with other freight operating companies.

VTG Rail UK Ltd

VTG Rail UK Ltd is an award-winning organisation, pioneering innovative design, leading research and the development of industry standards for rail ­freight rolling stock. As part of VTG AG, Europe’s leading wagon hire and rail logistics company, it has substantial experience and resources underpinning its UK operations.

VTG’s UK fleet of around 2,800 wagons comprises a bulk sector for dry and solid products, a tank sector for petroleum and chemical products and an intermodal sector covering a comprehensive range of container platforms. VTG Group’s acquisition of Swiss based European wagon hire company AAE has increased the intermodal sector of the UK fleet by around 700 platforms.

New wagons are added regularly as part of a continuous replenishment process, being chosen to meet emerging market demands, as well as specific customer requirements. Fleet highlights include VTG’s ground breaking Ecofret wagon, which has changed the economic rules of intermodal traffic by virtually eliminating costly wasted space as well as our aluminium bodied cement and petroleum wagons giving a payload advantage of 5 tonnes compared to steel alternatives. VTG also pioneered the large-scale movement of biomass by rail, and can now supply “re-purposed” coal wagons, in an optimised form to carry aggregates.

As well as supplying purpose built or modified vehicles to meet customer requirements under flexible leasing arrangements, VTG is also an accredited “Entity in Charge of Maintenance”, and acts as both Keeper and ECM for all of the wagons in its fleet, ensuring full regulatory compliance. With additional offerings including purchase and leaseback, and a bespoke wagon management package for private wagon owners, VTG remains your number one choice.