More than 400 jobs and millions of pounds worth of investment are to be created following the opening of a 26-acre rail freight park in Shropshire.

Providing direct access for county companies to the UK rail network and Europe via the Channel Tunnel, the £8 million Telford International Railfreight Park is the first terminal of its kind in the Midlands.

It was officially opened yesterday by Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Theresa Villiers following years of planning by leaders at Telford & Wrekin Council who said the opening was a “momentous occasion.”

More than 180 people attended the ceremony at the park in Donnington, Telford, including council chiefs, rail bosses and representatives from businesses which were encouraged to use the “open access” track which links to the main Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line.

The terminal, which is to be run by specialist rail freight contractor John G Russell (Transport) Ltd, can receive and load or unload up to four freight trains per day with Halesfield-based freight forwarders TS International providing linking services.

Telford & Wrekin Mayor Karen Blundell said: “With its strong industrial history as the birthplace of industry, the completion of the Telford International Railfreight Park is a particularly momentous occasion for Telford, reinforcing its profile in the region and raising the borough’s national and international profile.”

She added: “It will not only sustain existing jobs but will also see the creation of an estimated 400 additional jobs both directly though the terminal and the construction of adjacent rail-serviced warehousing and indirectly by encouraging wider inward investment to the area.”

Mrs Villiers told guests she was delighted to open the “fantastic project”, saying she believed the park would be a major contributor to jobs and prosperity in Telford.