Rail authorities are keen to establish a freight terminal in the Aire Valley and develop new opportunities for local companies to send their goods by train, businessmen have been told.

Alan Marsden, market research manager for the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway, told Keighley Business Forum members there had been tremendous growth in freight traffic on the local line, involving the transportation of coal, aggregates and gypsum, with up to eight trains a day running in each direction.

He said: "We are currently looking at the possibility of offering a freight service to local companies, but what we don't have at the moment is a freight terminal along the Aire Valley.

"To build a new facility would be too expensive, so we need to look for existing sidings which could be adapted. One opportunity could be to use one of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway sidings.

"We will be happy to discuss any potential with local industry to see just what interest there may be from companies both large and small in maximising rail freight opportunities.

"We would also be happy to work with any firm interested in establishing a freight terminal."

Graham Mitchell is Keighley Business Forum's project officer and also chairman of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

He said both the forum and the railway were keen to develop any opportunities for establishing a local freight terminal, both for the benefit of local companies and to help reduce heavy goods vehicle traffic on the area's already congested roads.

Any companies interested in the proposals should contact Mr Mitchell at the forum.

* The re-arranged Great North Eastern Railway presentation at Keighley Business Development Centre will now take place on Wednesday at 6pm.

Mike Staff, customer operations manager with GNER, will give details of the planned daily Skipton-Keighley-London high-speed train service expected to be introduced in the autumn.

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