Tarmac on track with renewal of rail freight contracts

September 21, 2020

Leading sustainable construction solutions company Tarmac has underlined its continued commitment to lowering the whole life carbon footprint of customer projects with the renewal of a number of five-year rail freight contracts.

With over 60 rail connected sites Tarmac is one of the UK’s biggest users of the rail freight network, transporting approximately nine million tonnes of high-quality construction materials for use in local, regional and national infrastructure every year.

Chris Swan, head of rail at Tarmac, said: “The renewal of these contracts highlights both our ongoing commitment to supporting the delivery of a lower-carbon built environment and the continued enhancement of our rail freight capabilities.

“Effective use of the rail freight network is key in supporting the UK’s transition to a net-zero society and supporting a green recovery as we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis. Collaborative working has a vital role to play in this and we’re looking forward to working with our freight operating partners as the industry focuses on increasing the volumes of material moved by rail, as well as enhancing efficiencies and service.”

Under the renewed agreements, four companies will deliver rail freight services around Tarmac’s major hubs and rail supply routes:

  • Colas Rail UK – awarded the contract for the Dunbar cement works in East Lothian
  • GB Rail Freight – awarded the contract for aggregates from Swinden, Thrislington and Dry Rigg/Arcow quarries
  • Freightliner – awarded the contract for the Tunstead site in Derbyshire & the West Country quarries, including deliveries from Wales, Somerset, & Herefordshire
  • DB Cargo – awarded the contracts for Mountsorrel quarry in Leicestershire, as well as Tarmac’s aggregates business in Greenwich.

Tarmac’s ongoing development of its rail freight capabilities is part of its commitment to lower transport CO2 across the whole business. The company continues to invest in new terminals and handling facilities, as well as the latest equipment both on the railway and at sites to ensure operations are as efficient as possible.