New Telford rail terminal provides West Midlands with direct access to the UK and mainland European railfreight networks

With UK manufacturers, importers and retailers showing more and more interest in railfreight, the opening of the Telford International Railfreight Park (TIRP), 60km to the west of Birmingham, is excellent news for the West Midlands. Managed by the specialist railfreight company John G Russell, it provides direct access not only to the UK rail network but also to the whole of Europe via the Channel Tunnel.

The formal opening of the terminal took place on 10 June and was performed by the UK Member of Parliament, Theresa Villiers, who is Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. However TIRP has been handling a number of one-off train movements, primarily for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) since March 2009.

The development of Telford International Railfreight Park was initiated through a partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council, the MoD and the Homes & Communities Agency (formerly English Partnerships) in 2001. The project culminated in the reinstatement of approximately 3km of railway line from Wellington to Donnington and the construction of freight handling and storage facilities at Donnington. The project has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Advantage West Midlands.

Ken Russell, Commercial & Business Development Director, John G Russell (Transport) Ltd, outlined his company’s plans for the new terminal:

“Over the years, Telford has established itself as a manufacturing and distribution centre for Japanese multinationals such as Makita, Maxell, Ricoh and other major Asian electronics companies such as Tatung.

“Many of these companies are receiving imports such as components and finished goods from Asia and elsewhere by sea via the major UK ports, notably Felixstowe, Southampton and Tilbury. Therefore we expect the first regular trains will be to and from these ports loaded with deepsea containers.

“Initially, we will not have sufficient volumes to justify direct trains but we are confident that we will be able to link TIRP with Crewe, already an established hub for block container trains. As volumes build up, as we know they will, we will seek to operate direct services to these three major ports.”

John G Russell is also actively pursuing links between Telford and Continental Europe and is looking at various options such as connecting with other services via a London hub.

TIRP has been constructed on land previously owned by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and is adjacent to extensive MoD facilities, notably DSDA Donnington. The DSDA (Defence Storage and Distribution Agency) is an Enhanced Executive Agency of the MoD and is the storage and distribution arm of the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation. The role of the agency is to store, maintain, issue, process and distribute material for the MoD and other designated users.

Consequently, military traffic is also high on the agenda, says Mr Russell:

“The DSDA tells us that they have been very pleased with the initial rail movements from the military port of Marchwood, near Southampton, and from DSDA Bicester, near Oxford.

“Most responsible companies are now seeking more sustainable supply chain solutions and the DSDA is no different in this respect. It too wants to use rail if it can offer competitive rates and service levels. We, together with our partners in the UK railfreight industry, have proved to them that we can and they are delighted.”

Including Telford, the Russell Group operates five rail terminals in the UK and has open access to many others that are operated by third parties. This offers the potential to link TIRP with other parts of the UK. John G Russell is discussing with potential customers the operation of a regular service linking the London area with Scotland via TIRP, so providing the West Midlands with connections both north and south.

Councillor Steve Bentley, Cabinet Member for Environment at Telford & Wrekin Council said:
“The terminal, which is the first to the west of the West Midlands conurbation, is a fantastic facility for the borough and the region’s economy. It will help to provide a clear economic advantage for businesses in the area, linking Telford and Wrekin quickly and efficiently to destinations in the UK and Europe. The development opportunities around the site are sure to attract new businesses that need access to these main routes, with the benefit of avoiding some of the region’s congestion.

“Telford & Wrekin Council was a driving force behind this project, and with this facility, the Council has effectively established its own policy for railfreight, delivering it through effective partnership working, and encouraging substantial inward investment, which we anticipate will continue in the future.”

www.johngrussell.co.uk