50 trains used Telford rail freight terminal in first 365 days

A multi-million-pound international rail freight terminal in Shropshire has been branded "a white elephant" by campaigners, who have called for more to be made of the site.

The £7.75m International Railfreight Park in Donnington, Telford, was expected to handle four trains a day when it opened in 2009.

But in its first year just 50 trains used the centre - leading to calls today for part of the site to be used as a lorry park to help boost business.

However, Telford & Wrekin Council chiefs have defended the terminal, saying they expected to make "significant" announcements about further new users in the next few weeks.

Regeneration chief, Councillor Eric Carter, said: "A facility like this, the only one of its kind in the region west of Birmingham, takes up to five years to establish itself.

"The terminal's first 18 months have given a very solid platform despite the worst recession in decades."

Telford & Wrekin Council member and Donnington Parish Council chairman Clive Mason is leading the calls for more use to be made of the site. He said the lorry park idea would bring some money to the site until it got off the ground.

Matthew Sinclair, director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Regional development agencies like Advantage West Midlands and the European Union have funded so many white elephants, justified on the basis of overly optimistic assumptions these projects are an incredible waste of taxpayers' money."

Colette Ranford, operations manager for Airdrie-based John G Russell (Transport), who run the site, said bosses would welcome any opportunity and commitment from local businesses to use the rail terminal.