A THIRD-GENERATION distribution firm has secured its first contract to move containers by rail at a new £2.6m freight hub.

AV Dawson will shift up to 24 tar tanks a week from Tata Steel’s Port Talbot base, in Wales, to Koppers, at Port Clarence, near Middlesbrough.

The deal is rich reward for the business, which previously embarked upon a £12.5m expansion that complemented its rail freight terminal with a deepwater quay and huge £6.5m storage shed to create the Tees Riverside Intermodal Park.

It also builds on an existing agreement between Middlesbrough-based AV Dawson and Tata, which sees the former stockpile rail deliveries of steel coil in its shed ahead of road transportation to customers including Sunderland-based car maker Nissan.

Gary Dawson, managing director, said the tie-up demonstrates the firm’s commitment to Government objectives to move heavy freight from road to rail.

He also said it was proof the business’ Tees Riverside Intermodal Park endeavour was a shrewd move.

He said: “We built the park because we knew there was an opportunity to take a substantial amount of heavy traffic off roads and convert it to rail, while offering a more efficient delivery process for customers.”

Neil McShane, rail manager, added: “It is one of the key reasons we developed the Intermodal Park and is the first of many new contracts this investment will bring to AV Dawson and Teesside.”

AV Dawson was founded in 1938 when Vernie and Eleanor Dawson spent £50 on horse Dina, her shoes and a cart to deliver coal.