Freight Track Record More board products by rail from Inverness?

CANADIAN company Norbord is considering proposals to distribute more products by rail from its board plant near Inverness.

Norbord is the world’s largest producer of oriented strand board (OSB), used in construction and furniture manufacturing as a replacement for plywood.

It recently received planning approval for a £125million expansion of its Morayhill plant on the Moray Firth, near the Highland capital, securing 130 jobs plus a further 300 in the forestry supply chain.

However, the improvements will lead to a 10% increase in daily HGV movements around the plant, and both Norbord and local politicians have expressed a desire to switch more traffic to rail.

Norbord already moves some products by rail, using Highland Main Line intermodal services, which would otherwise run largely empty on their southbound leg.

Loaded containers are currently moved by road to Milburn Yard in Inverness for onward movement by rail to Mossend and beyond.

Norbord is reported to be in discussions with Network Rail about a possible rail connection from the Inverness to Aberdeen line to its plant and a series of trials has been undertaken to support the concept.

A spokesman for Norbord said: “We would support the development of the rail infrastructure in Inverness.”

A Network Rail spokesman added: “We are committed to encouraging more businesses to transport their products by rail and we are working with Norbord and the rail freight industry to explore options at this location.”