A TRIAL train run to bring coal to Castle Cement, Clitheroe, was right on track.

The first rail run into the works went without a hitch and now regular deliveries will be made to see if the system can be made economically and environmentally viable.

The last coal delivery was made to Castle Cement by train more than three years ago. The rail link was abandoned then because of increased freight charges from British Rail.

The company is looking once again to the rail line to bring coal from the North East and Scotland into its Ribble Valley works.

Repair and clearing work had to be undertaken before the track was passed by Railtrack as fit for use. During the trials there will be two trains a week, each bringing 1,000 tons of coal.

The train deliveries will save up to 80 lorry loads of coal being brought by road.

Castle Cement has employed the skills of the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway Company, which operates a rail delivery to the Castle works at Ketton, Lincolnshire.

Peter Parkes, clinker manager at the Ribblesdale works, said: "We are delighted that this first delivery has been completed successfully.

"We need to continue these trials, however, to see if coal deliveries by train are viable in the long term."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.