A NORTH-EAST logistics firm has created more than 30 new jobs after opening a £2.6m rail terminal.

AV Dawson, in Middlesbrough, will expand its freight delivery business after building the Tees Riverside Intermodal Park (TRIP) to connect to the East Coast Main Line.

The terminal is part of wider £10m plans, which include a £3.2m deepwater quay, and comes as the business signs a deal to transport goods through the Channel Tunnel to pave the way for increased European contracts.

The company received £1.2m of Government Regional Growth Fund (RGF) cash to fund the work, and has created 32 jobs – 10 have already been filled – and safeguarded 150 jobs with the investment.

Gary Dawson, AV Dawson managing director, said the terminal includes rail sidings capable of handling trains carrying up to 80 containers, can store 1,200 loaded containers and has a 54,000sq metre operational space.

He said the company had bought six acres of Network Rail land next to the new terminal to expand container storage, and believed the development would have a tremendous impact on the firm and Teesside's job industry.

He said: "The rail terminal is just one part of our extensive growth plans and it’s fantastic to see the vision we have for the company start to become a reality.

"The RGF funding will have a tremendous positive impact on our company, on the wider supply chain and make an important jobs contribution on Teesside.

"The terminal strengthens our ability to move goods quickly and efficiently and save our customers money in the process."

The investment comes as the firm enjoys increased demand from the subsea energy market, working with four leading companies since 2011.

Mr Dawson said the development to increase the depth of its deepwater quay to 8.5m and lengthen it by 150m proved it was committed to becoming a leading company in the offshore market.

He said: "The offshore sector is starting to recognise the North Sea supply base as one of the premier facilities on the east coast.

"We are experiencing an unprecedented level of enquiries for quayside and associated warehousing and open storage land.

"A lot of these are related to the oil and gas markets but also renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, and the new quay will support these clients’ growth ambitions."