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Rail-freight plans for Welsh timber
Page 12
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A SURGE IN WELSH timber production over the next decade could result in far-reaching changes to the way it is transported to processors.
Ttials of a new rail-freight service are expected to start later this year after a report highlighted how poor roads and mounting public concern about timber trucks pose major challenges to the industry The report, commissioned by the Wales Timber Transport Group (WTTG), says Welsh timber production is set to grow from one million tonnes a year to 1.4 million tonnes over the next decade.
It adds that upgrading forest roads could help relieve pressure on minor roads and suggests that 181,000 tonnes could be carried annually by rail by 2015 if there is adequate investment in the Freight Multiple Unit (FMU).
Paul Sherrington, chairman of WTTG, says trials of a timbercarrying FMU will probably begin later this year between Aberystwyth and the Kronospan timber processing plant near Wrexham.
"FMUs can move quite quickly and don't hold up passenger trains like many other types of rail freight," he adds. "They also enable very quick loading from the track side."
Sherrington adds that a wealth of other ideas have emerged from the report including closer liaison with local authorities about when and where roads used by timber trucks are maintained.
"We are still in the process of evaluating the recommendations," he explains, "but would envisage most of the things would be acted upon."
WTTG was formed two years ago by forestry organisations, local authorities and hauliers in response to mounting public concern about timber traffic.
Sherrington wants more hauliers represented on the group:"The problem is that timber transport in Wales is a bit fragmented."