A number of ports were developed by railway companies. They were anxious to extend their services overseas, usually to ports on the continent of Europe. In some cases, such as Cardiff, Barry and Garston, the railway built them to export coal from pits which it served. These ports had facilities for unloading coal from rail wagons into ships.

Southern Railway boat train on its way into Southampton docks

Naturally, these ports had good railway connections. Many developed cross-channel ferry services, e.g. to Ireland, France or Belgium. Facilities grew to cater for the passengers and cargo using these. For instance, some ports serving Ireland had lairages where cattle were landed and looked after before being sent to market. Southampton developed largely as a railway port, offering ferry and other services to France. These were allowed to run down, however, and Southampton has lost the ferry business to nearby Portsmouth.

At least one port was developed by a canal company. Goole was built partly to ship out coal mined in Yorkshire which was brought to it by canal. It had facilities to lift entire canal boats laden with coal and tip them into ships` holds.

State ownership

Container ship next to British Transport Docks premesis

Soon after the Second World War (1939-1945), railways and canals came into state ownership, and with them the ports they owned. In the 1980s, it was argued that investment in these ports was restricted because of the way they were financed by the government. This led to the owning company, now known as Associated British Ports or ABP, being privatised.

Private enterprise

Authority ownership

Company ownership