An abandoned steel works site and a long disused rail terminal have finally been brought back to commercial life. GB Railfreight and a consortium of business interests have collaborated to bring operations back to Stanton in the English Midlands, with the first commercial flow in over a decade leaving the site on 13 May.
Plans for the repurposing of Stanton Ironworks in Ilkeston, the former metals manufacturing site near Derby in the English Midlands, have taken a significant step forward. At short notice, GB Railfreight (GBRf) operated a train of 1,400 tonnes, carrying assorted steel fragments from the site, to the docks at Immingham bulk terminal for onward shipping. The operator has called it an opportunity to breathe new life into the local economy.
Rail at heart of Stanton plans
In collaboration with their commercial partners, GBRf has just released details of their first Stanton operation. The service was the first to leave the Stanton site since 2009, and followed a series of trials over the dormant infrastructure. GBRf, who were operating on behalf of Ward, a major waste, recycling and remediation company based in nearby Chesterfield, said it was the first loaded freight service from Stanton in over twelve years.
Ward has been at the heart of plans for Stanton for some time. They reported back in 2020 that the long-term plans for the site revolved around the rail freight infrastructure already in place. GBRf has been collaborating on the revival of the site, providing motive power and rolling stock for trial movements.