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GB Railfreight helps Heidelberg Materials to reopen Horton Quarry rail link after 60 years

GB Railfreight[1] has announced that it has operated the first freight train into Horton Quarry in Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire, marking the first rail movement into the site since 1965. The Quarry is owned by Heidelberg Materials UK, and has produced limestone and high-quality gritstone for road and runway surfacing since 1889. The freight operator added that a newly constructed rail terminal within the quarry was now undergoing a two-week testing phase.

Once operational, the service will support Heidelberg Materials' distribution of building materials to construction projects across the North West. Following the successful completion of the trial phase, regular rail freight services from Horton Quarry are expected to resume for the first time in six decades. For each rail movement, GB Railfreight will move c.1,650 tonnes of limestone and a fully laden freight train can remove the equivalent of up to 129 lorries off from the road.

This development represents a significant step in enhancing sustainable freight transport in the region, reducing road haulage and supporting the UK's net-zero ambitions. John Smith OBE, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Re-utilising sites like Horton Quarry are essential to growing rail freight - doing so makes our roads safer and improves air quality. Getting trains running from the Quarry again is testament to the hard work of many and I am delighted that GB Railfreight are running this service for Heidelberg Materials."

Becky Murphy, Aggregates Regional Director, said: "The re-opening of this connection is a key part of our strategy to improve our network of rail-connected quarries and depots.

It will allow us to supply high-quality aggregate to major construction projects by rail, reducing vehicle movements on the wider road network and cutting associated CO2 emissions - it has been great to work with GB Railfreight to deliver this new service."

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References

  1. ^ GB Railfreight (www.gbrailfreight.com)
  2. ^ Download article (news.railbusinessdaily.com)