ConstantFlyer - A very interesting post, and example as to how an innovative management team can survive & grow given the close proximity of a much larger hub.
A few comments, I can see that in retrospect with decent management there probably was an opportunity to develop akin to that at Liege, but for any number of reasons over the years all possible seeds of development have not been nurtured to grow into strong thriving areas of business. Ironically you mention TNT where at DTV the great promises of an expanding regional freight hub have simply evaporated. Why ? well much of it is down to politics, in the UK distribution centers have been set out having regard to communications & what resource there was available directed there & encouraging further external investment. The road transport network in the UK is 30 years out of date with virtually zero resource being directed at the North East so that effectively killed off DTV. Most politicians have more than one agenda and it is the same at One North East where with "more than one mouth to feed" there can easily be a lack of focus on either DTV or indeed NCL.
On another tack then there is some cynicism in that the EU is conveniently located in Brussels & that perhaps in the availability of grants & subsidies, then when handouts are required, there may perhaps be those closer at hand with connections to Liege to lobby and provide a strong business case for the whole region if not Belgium as a whole. Clearly something has worked with as you state fast & efficient trains & road network!
With the current management team and with their paymasters based in the North West then again perhaps those with the greater management skills and experience are attracted to more rewarding projects away from DTV. Politics enter into all spheres of operation and I have seen nothing to suggest that government performance in respect of transport over the last 30 years is going to improve, lets face it even "local lad" Blair quickly become seduced by the bright lights & trappings elsewhere, when he above all had the ability to direct resource “Up North” as opposed to empty jingoistic promises.