GB Railfreight (GBRf) has announced the commencement of a new service to move aggregates from Shap Summit Quarry to Battleship Wharf in North Blyth.
The aggregates are being moved for Breedon and will be used for the foundations of a BritishVolt gigaplant, which is strategically important to the UK’s automotive industry and a key component in the drive to the UK achieving Net Zero by 2050.
GBRf plans to run one train per day until September, when it will then run two trains per day until around March 2023. Class 66 locomotives with 22 MJA wagons will be used for this service, with over 315kt of aggregates being moved over the period of the campaign.
John Smith, CEO of GB Railfreight, said: “Rail freight has a vital role to play in supporting the economy and in helping companies transition to a greener way of working. “The new service demonstrates how transporting material by rail, instead of by road, significantly reduces the environmental impact of important construction projects.”
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom, GB Railfreight is one of the fastest-growing companies in the rail industry, transporting goods for a wide range of customers across the country. GBRf operates a reliable, safe, and sustainable portfolio of rail freight services for customers working in intermodal, energy generation, infrastructure, waste, construction, and rail services.
With a workforce totalling more than 1,100 staff from across the UK, GBRf’s unique people-focused culture has won the acclaim of the sector, achieving the Great Place to Work award at the National Rail Awards 2020. GBRf prides itself on five core principles that resonate across the business: communication and visibility, professionalism, trust and empowerment, enjoyment, and support.