DB Schenker Rail UK have recently announced 3 longterm contracts that will save a total of 2 million lorry miles – better for the environment and better for Britain’s roads.
The first is a five year contract with United Asphalt, an independent asphalt manufacturing business, to transport hard stone aggregate from Avonmouth Docks to Theale in Berkshire and in an East of England first, imported hard stone will be moved to Theale from Ipswich Docks by rail. That should save the A14 from a fair bit of wear and tear!
The company will run three services each week, carrying approximately 1,300 tonnes of aggregate per train and the first ran from Avonmouth Docks on 12 October carrying special skid resistant aggregate from Northern Ireland. The rail freight service means that up to 135 lorry loads will be removed from the roads each week, leading to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
The second contract is for 10 years and is with Brett Aggregates, one of the largest independent producers of sand and gravel in the UK. Aggregate to be used in the production of concrete will be shipped by rail from Cliffe in Kent to Brett Aggregates’ new railhead in Neasden, North London.
The new service, which commenced 14 October, will provide two trains a week also carrying approximately 1,300 tonnes per train, the equivalent of around 90 lorry loads.
Brett Aggregates provides a wide range of traditional and recycled products from 32 quarry sites and wharves in London, the South East and East of England. David Fletcher, of DB Schenker, said “We have been successfully operating the Ipswich to Watford traffic for Brett Aggregates since 2013 but this new contract further strengthens our relationship with them.”
Finally, a six year contract with J Clubb also started in October transporting ash from West Burton Power Station in Nottinghamshire to East Peckham in Kent. Two trains a week now transport around 1,200 tonnes per train and the ash is used in the production of concrete blocks, an eco-alternative to tipping the ash for waste.
With the closure of the Kent coal-fired power stations – itself a boost for the environment – meant that J Clubb needed a new source for ash and the rail service provided an ecomonic and eco-friendly solution. It will in addition be the first regular rail traffic for at least 10 years into the recently re-instated East Peckham rail yard and will save 170 lorry loads from the roads each week.