ROAD will replace rail as the mode of transport for the flow of bitumen traffic to the Total Energies plant at Preston Docks, on the north bank of the River Ribble in Lancashire.
For the last 18 months, the movements, operated by Colas Rail Freight, have originated at Haverton Hill, near Billingham on Teesside, but in a statement to The RM, the French oil company confirmed it had taken the decision to use road tankers instead of trains.
“This is as a result of a reduction in the volumes of bitumen being processed at the site which has determined that the most appropriate mode of transport is now by road,” it added. “We expect rail movements to cease by the end of the year.”