Freightliner has announced two new five-year Heavy Haul rail contracts with Breedon Group plc. The first is a renewal of a pre-existing cement contract and the second is a brand-new contract moving aggregates from multiple sites to various delivery points across the UK.
On Saturday 28th June, Freightliner ran the first aggregate service for Breedon. This five-year contract includes the movement of aggregates from Dowlow and Shap Quarries to Breedon’s sites at Ashbury and Walsall as well as delivering to additional third-party sites across the UK.
Freightliner have deployed Class 70 locomotives to support this contract which will enable longer and heavier trains to operate on this contract contributing to increased output, efficiency and supporting a more sustainable operation.
Freightliner are also repurposing a residual coal fleet into aggregate box wagons in partnership with WH Davis, a leading provider of wagon design and manufacture, and Porterbrook, a leading British rolling stock company, to support this new Breedon contract. These wagon conversions will support the UK supply chain and drive sustainable innovation in the rail industry. The wagon conversions are being carried out at the WH Davis factory in Mansfield, bringing new life and service to an otherwise redundant fleet.
Freightliner have also invested significantly in a new maintenance and fuelling facility at Dowlow Quarry to contribute to increased operational efficiency of the contract.
Tony Power, Procurement Category Manager at Breedon, said:
“Our two new five-year agreements with Freightliner are a major step forward in our drive for safety, sustainability and efficiency improvements across our rail portfolio. Freightliner’s can-do attitude in delivering excellent service and performance have been key to satisfying the requirements of all stakeholders across the Breedon business."
This contract, an extension of the longstanding agreement between Breedon and Freightliner, in place for over 25 years, covers the transport of cement from Hope Cement Works to distribution sites across the UK, including Dagenham, Theale, Dewsbury and Walsall.
In addition to these flows, the recently renewed contract also includes the movement of Alternative Raw Materials (ARM) – delivering materials from Llandudno and Drax Power Station into the cement works.
To support the increased traffic in and out of the busy Hope Cement Works, Freightliner has made significant investments at Earles Sidings, helping to ensure smooth and efficient operations.
Dave Penney, Managing Director - Heavy Haul and Rail Services at Freightliner commented:
“We are delighted to be extending our partnership with Breedon continuing to operate the cement contract and commencing the movement of aggregates across the UK. Our long-standing partnership is a testament to the great service reliability that the Freightliner team deliver day in, day out for Breedon.”
