Work has commenced on the extension to the South Rail Terminal at the Port of Felixstowe. The existing Rail Terminal is being extended by 39 metres on all three lines, to accommodate 22 wagon trains, as opposed to the current 20 wagon trains. This will lead to an approximate increase in train volume capacity of 10% per annum. 
This expansion programme will result in an increase of an additional two wagons per track, equivalent to 16,500 TEUs per annum. These works are due for completion in May, before the delivery of a new rail-mounted gantry crane for the Terminal, from Zhenhua Port Machinery Company (ZPMC) in China. 
Chris Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, which owns the Port of Felixstowe, commented: 
“We are experiencing ever-increasing rail volumes, and must continue to develop and improve our facilities in order 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 brand new rail-mounted gantry cranes, supported by two reachstacker vehicles operating over the full length of the extended terminal. 
There are a total of 52 arrivals or departures per day from the Port of Felixstowe’s North and South Rail terminals. These trains link the Port to Coatbridge (Glasgow), Trafford Park (Manchester), Liverpool, Leeds, Cleveland, Birmingham, Cardiff, Tilbury, Selby, Wakefield, Hams Hall, Ditton, Daventry and Doncaster.