DB Cargo UK runs first trains into Washwood Heath for Tarmac

DB Cargo UK has announced that it has made its first delivery of aggregate to new asphalt facility by Tarmac, at Washwood Heath in Birmingham.

The city centre plant will provide essential materials to support the ongoing delivery of projects in Birmingham. It is being entirely supplied by rail, resulting in a significant reduction in HGV traffic on local roads.

DB Cargo UK is using its new fleet of wagons to transport aggregates from Tarmac's Mountsorrel quarry in Leicestershire to the site.

Converted from coal hoppers, the new wagons are among the most efficient transporting construction materials in the country.

Tarmac's new facility is due to be operational in 2020 and will include recycling technology to help local highways authorities recycle and re-use asphalt from existing roads.

What did the officials say?

Chris Swan, Head of Rail at Tarmac, said:

“Continually increasing the volume of materials moved on the rail network supports our underlying commitment to sustainability across our whole business.

“The new facility at Washwood Heath is a great example of the benefits of transporting construction materials into a city centre location by rail freight. We're able to support the efficient delivery of local infrastructure projects without increasing HGV movements on the local road network, enabling us to lower the whole life carbon footprint of customer projects as well as reduce our transport CO2.”

Graeme Murray, DB Cargo UK account manager, said:

“We're delighted to be strengthening our relationship with Tarmac by operating this new service, supporting both the initial construction of the site and the ongoing provision of materials for use in the asphalt plant.

“We're using the most efficient wagons available, repurposed from their previous use to further support the site's sustainability efforts and look forward to having full services up and running in the new year.”

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