WAY back in 1948 US President Harry Truman was fighting a re-election campaign. To see the most people in the shortest time he organised a railway trip using a special train.

He made up to eight speeches a day from the observation platform at the rear. Some of the places he visited were quite small; "whistle stops" in fact. And hence the expression whistle-stop tour.

History was recreated at Sims' new railhead and scrap car recycling plant at Newport Docks last week.

Guests enjoyed the sight of Assembly economic development minister Andrew Davies arriving in triumph on board an EWS locomotive.

The minister has a vested interest in the success of the operation because the Assembly awarded a 1.72m freight facilities grant towards the new rail terminal.

Sims has invested 10 million in associated equipment and port operator ABP has put in 3.5 million worth of new infrastructure.

The Assembly is very proud of public/private partnerships and as this one has every chance of being extremely successful. It's understandable that Mr Davies should want to milk it.

The site's prospects are linked to the EU's environmental legislation on end-of-life vehicle disposal which is set to bite at the beginning of December.

Apparently, very few scrap yards are ready for it.

But Sims is rearing to go, having installed the world's largest vehicle shredder at Newport Docks, capable of demolishing 450 vehicles per hour!

They will be brought to Newport from all over the UK via the rail network as Sims has established a network of 30 loading depots. Once shredded, the scrap is sorted and various materials reclaimed. The steel is loaded direct onto ships and carried to steel plants in Europe, India and the Far East.

World steel prices have doubled in the last two years, making this recycling a lucrative business.

Speaking at a reception in a marquee next to the giant (and very voluble) shredder, Mr Davies shouted: "This is a red-letter day for Newport and the South Wales economy.

"It demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and recycling and the value of public/private sector collaboration.

"By taking over 5,000 lorry journeys off our roads this development is making a major contribution to the environment and the quality-of-life of local residents.

"And can I say that as the grandson of a shunter on the Great Western Railway how delighted I am to be able to invest in the rail network.

"Everything about this operation is big and it puts Wales at the forefront of the recycling industry, so I'm delighted to declare it open."

Tom Bird responded for Sims Group. He seemed to have fallen in love with Newport, declaring it the jewel in the crown of Sims UK and Sims Group (it's an Australian company).

"This is the premier metals recycling plant in Europe, employing 100 people and recycling 50,000 tons of metal per month."

Listing the main elements, he said Sims had the world's largest shredder, two fridge recycling plants (handling 700,000 fridges per year) and one of the world's largest dockside loading cranes.

"We like to say we were green long before it became fashionable and our rail network for this operation will eliminate 5,000 lorry movements per year.

"The support we've received from the Assembly, Newport council and ABP has been tremendous."

ABP's South Wales ports director John Copping said: "While ABP is the UK's biggest dock operator, we don't actually shift a single tonne of freight.

"We rely on our customers to do that, and focus on being an infrastructure provider.

"Our relationship with Sims at Newport goes back 10 years and it has been highly productive. In the last two years alone Sims' cargo has doubled.

"The company has made substantial investments here as has ABP and the Assembly.

"It's a win win situation and we're extremely proud to have Sims as a customer."

David Matthew, metals manager for EWS Railway (which will be carrying all the end-of-life vehicles to Newport), said: "It's vital to respond to the pressure being put on the country's roads.

"And I wish politicians in Westminster had the foresight to maintain a grant regime and back the rail infrastructure in the way the Assembly has done.

"It's a pleasure to be associated with this opening."