New owners take on Telford railfreight terminal
Shropshire's ill-fated Railfreight Park has a new owner after Europe's largest rail freight operator took over the site.
DB Schenker won the right to run the £7.75million Donnington terminal in?Telford in July, and has now formally taken charge.
David Legge, business manager for logistics at DB Schenker Rail UK, said: "Terminals are crucial for the development of rail freight services, and the facility at Telford is a unique opportunity to increase volumes moved by rail rather than road.
"DB Schenker Rail is proud to have been awarded the contract to operate and manage the terminal and by working with Telford & Wrekin Council we aim to make it a success.
"We will integrate the terminal at Telford into our existing terminal network throughout the UK, in order to maximise growth in volumes handled at the facility." JG Russell, which previously ran the park, quit its 15-year lease in December 2011 after losing money.
Schenker is Europe's biggest rail freight operator, with a fleet of 109,000 freight cars crossing the continent.
The company hopes to use the terminal to increase its UK network, as well as encouraging businesses in Telford, Shropshire, and the wider West Midlands to use it.
Telford & Wrekin Council, meanwhile, hopes the terminal will encourage more companies to set up in the borough.
Councillor Charles Smith, the council's cabinet member for housing, regeneration and economic development, said: "This is the appointment of a major company to take the facility forward and is just one more example of Telford & Wrekin Council as a dynamic business supporting authority that is working to attract inward investment.
"I look forward to the terminal being used a lot more in the years to come as DB Schenker Rail develops a strategy that enables major local businesses to use it effectively."
Telford International Railfreight Park was opened in June 2009 and has the capacity to load or unload up to four freight trains a day.
