Aggregate arrives by freight on HS2 project as part of carbon-cutting scheme
Construction aggregate has been delivered for the first time by freight at a HS2 site in Birmingham as part of a scheme to cut carbon emissions.
The shipment arrived at the rail firm's Washwood Heath site and signals the start of a scheme to take up to 1.5 million lorries off the road.
Around 150,000 freight trains will deliver 10 million tons of aggregate to sites across the country – with each train replacing around 70 lorries.
The scheme will see a "massive reduction" in carbon emissions as well as a "significant" investment into the rail freight sector, transport chiefs have said.
The Washwood Heath site will see 10 trains make the journey per week –bringing around 1,500 tons of aggregate supplied by Rail Stone Solutions and GB Railfreight.
The material will be used to construct a large piling platform for the Bromford tunnel approaches, railway embankments and haul roads around the site.
Mike Lyons, HS2's Civils Client Director said: "HS2 is already playing a vital role in Britain’s green economic recovery, and today marks a significant milestone in our ambitions to reduce the project’s carbon footprint throughout construction.
Commitment
“We’ve been working closely with Network Rail, our main works civil contractors, and freight operators for a number of years to make this possible, and to deliver on our commitment to move as much material as possible by rail rather than road and help benefit the environment.”
Bromford Tunnel is the most northerly tunnel on Phase One, taking the railway in to Birmingham towards its destination at Curzon Street station.
Transport chiefs say the move will see up to 150,000 freight trains deliver 10 million tons of aggregate to construction sites – with each train replacing around 70 lorries.
It marks a massive reduction in carbon emissions and a "significant investment" into the rail freight sector, bosses have said.
Nick Coles, HS2 programme manager, freight and national passenger operators at Network Rail, said: "Network Rail has been collaborating with HS2 Ltd and its supply chain partners on the HS2 Materials by Rail programme for the past two years – we’re delighted to see today’s first materials freight train to Washwood Heath and will continue to work closely with the programme in the years ahead to maximise the contribution the UK rail network and rail freight can make to the construction of HS2 ton of aggregates this year."
Phase 2a of the project will see the line carves through Staffordshire on its way to Crewe – with backlash being sparked over plans to decimate woodland.
The sites include Fulfen Wood, an ancient woodland between Huddleford and Lichfield, prompting campaigners to warn that the "irreplaceable" woodland will soon be lost forever.
