Victa Railfreight and Cemex UK have celebrated the 20 millionth tonne of aggregates being more sustainably transported by rail from Dove Holes Quarry, in Derbyshire, to be used in major construction projects in UK cities.
In 2018 the two companies came together to move aggregates from the picturesque Peak District’s narrow, country roads onto rail, which has resulted in a successful seven year partnership built on performance, safety and supply chain resilience.
Debbie Simmons, managing director at Victa Railfreight, said: “Reaching 20 million tonnes transported from Dove Holes is a testament to how rail can more sustainably support the transportation of aggregates into our inner cities to enable construction and infrastructure projects. Rail freight provides a slicker, quicker, and more sustainable solution which means thousands of lorries can be taken from our congested roads every day.
“At Victa Railfreight we stand shoulder to shoulder with our customers in supplying our expert teams in terminal management, ground staff, locomotive driving and strategic viewpoint to ensure a safe, reliable and more sustainable rail solution that delivers real value for all.
“We are very proud of our achievements so far with our valued partner, Cemex UK, and look forward to many more celebrated milestones in the future.”
Appointed by Cemex UK to manage all train arrivals, departures, and shunting operations at Dove Holes, Victa Railfreight has delivered over 99% of all outbound trains to depart on time and in full, ensuring dependable onward haulage across the national rail network.
Around 3 million tonnes of aggregates leave Dove Holes by train every year to support construction and infrastructure projects nationwide. Victa Railfreight also co-ordinates onsite facilities for customers using their own rail providers to collect materials directly from the quarry.
Rob Wilkinson, aggregates & asphalt logistics manager at Cemex UK, said: “Rail plays a vital role in our transport operations at Cemex and directly supports our global Future in Action strategy to cut CO₂ emissions.
“We’re incredibly proud of the strong growth in our rail operations in recent years and the positive impact this has had on our wider sustainability goals. Rail will remain a strategic priority for us, and we are committed to expanding its use as it becomes an increasingly important part of our supply chain.”
Image credit: Victa Railfreight
