Rail Freight Sucesses

Some forward thinking local authorities do actually realise the growing importance of rail freight
in attracting new business to an area:News From Widnes and Telford.

Telford Rail Freight Terminal
The Rail Freight terminal is an important project for the Borough which consists of two main parts:
• A core terminal with hard standings for transfer of freight between rail and road• A 22 acre rail-served development site capable of taking a warehouse in excess of 400,000 square feet. This will be marketed to developers and logistics companies.The new rail freight facility in Telford will not only provide existing companies in Telford with an alternative transport choice, but will assist in sustaining existing jobs and creating new jobs by helping to attract new businesses into the region.
There are also environmental benefits associated with switching transportation of products from road to rail.
The terminal is initially expected to handle around 200 - 250,000 tonnes of freight per year and will have the ability to grow easily to handle around 750,000 tonnes per year.
Construction of the rail link has now started with the contractor, Carillon, building the connection to the national rail network. The permanent way work was completed in October 2006.The preparation of the site and construction of the Railfreight Terminal facilities (warehousing and hardstandings) is currently scheduled to begin early in 2007. Clearance of vegetation, erection of fencing and other advance works are scheduled to take place in the latter part of 2006.It is intended that the branchline and the majority of the terminal works (hardstandings and sidings) will be completed by mid 2007, with the construction of the warehousing completed 12 months later.
For more information about this project go to http://www.telford.gov.uk/Environment+and+planning/Planning/Telford+Railfreight+home.htm

Ditton
New Rail Freight Centre’s Green Credentials
A once-contaminated brown field site on the banks of the Mersey has been transformed into a new rail freight distribution centre, creating 1,500 new jobs. The site at Ditton, near Widnes, is the first opened in the UK by Innovis. It is estimated that the centre will take 500,000 tonnes of freight a year from road to rail – equal to 40,000 articulated lorry loads – as well as bring £65m investment to the local area. Innovis are aiming to open a number of such centres across the country. They say the Ditton depot is in line with government policy providing more infrastructure support to ports, with a greater emphasis on rail rather than roads. Rail minister Derek Twigg, who officially opened the facility, said: “This is a great scheme and marvellous news for the north west. All the project partners are to be congratulated on a well-planned and well thought out venture.” Keith Williams, Innovis director, added: “This is our flagship, a new modern hub which represents significant new investment in Britain’s infrastructure - contributing jobs, economic regeneration and an element of sustainability.”
Date: January 24th 2006
http://www.railwaypeople.com/rail-news-articles/new-rail-freight-centre-s-green-credentials-947.html