Railfreight plans still on track

The £8 million Telford International Railfreight Park is to open early in June on time and on budget, it was revealed today.

Completion of the massive project has been achieved despite the collapse of the principal contractor, Wrekin Construction, last month with the loss of 430 jobs.

Wrekin had virtually completed work on the 26-acre site in Donnington before it folded.

The terminal, which can receive and load or unload up to four freight trains per day, has now begun taking its first commercial trains.

Final minor works are now being done on what is the first public sector development of its kind and the first railfreight terminal to open in the UK for many years.

The terminal's operators, John G Russell (Transport) Ltd, will next week launch the Telford International Railfreight Park as a new addition to their network at the Multimodal Exhibition at the NEC.

Telford & Wrekin Council, meanwhile, has said it is pleased with the level interest already shown in land adjoining the rail terminal by potential investors.

Councillor Stephen Bentley said: "We are now on the very last stage of what has been a long journey which will see us complete what will be a fantastic facility for the borough's and the region's economy."

The park will be formally opened on June 10 by Shadow Minister for Transport Theresa Villiers.