A landmark has been reached at a Derbyshire quarry complex. Cemex UK and its rail operations partner, Victa Railfreight, have celebrated the achievement of moving twenty million tonnes of aggregates in the seventh year of their collaboration. Together, they have transported limestone and other aggregates by rail from Dove Holes Quarry since 2018.
The milestone underlines the pivotal role of rail freight in moving construction materials sustainably across Great Britain. The achievement highlights the impact of rail operations on local infrastructure, reducing road traffic in the sensitive Peak District National Park. It has also helped support employment and economic activity, while playing a part in major projects in cities including Manchester, Birmingham, and London.
Dove Holes quarry: a historic and strategic site
Dove Holes Quarry is situated within the otherwise rural High Peak district of Derbyshire. It spans more than 213 hectares and has been producing limestone since the late 18th century. Its operations predate railways and reflect the long industrial history of the Peak District. Today, the quarry serves as a key supplier of aggregates for construction projects across the UK, particularly in the South East of England, where demand continues to outstrip local supply.
The quarry benefits from its location on a former main line connecting Manchester, Nottingham, and London. While the line that once carried prestige passenger services is now disused eastwards of the quarry complex, it now underpins a high-volume freight operation, allowing large-scale movement of aggregates efficiently and sustainably across the national rail network.
Rail freight transforms transport and sustainability
The milestone of 20 million tonnes has removed an estimated 520,000 lorry journeys from congested local roads since 2018. According to the partners, moving aggregates by rail rather than road reduces CO₂ emissions by approximately 50% per ton-mile, while significantly easing pressure on the surrounding roads. The transition to rail reflects both a commitment to operational efficiency and the environmental responsibilities of large-scale industrial operations.
Rail freight also enhances safety for local communities. Each train departure represents careful coordination between quarry staff, train operators, and Network Rail, the national infrastructure agency. The choreography in and out of Dove Holes – which also serves as a railhead for other local quarry operations – ensures that a busy schedule of bulk load trains runs on time and in full while navigating the challenging Peak District terrain. Experiments have even been conducted with “jumbo trains” – running two consists in one unit to save a pathing. It is an idea noted by other operators.
Victa Rail and Cemex have forged a successful partnership
Victa Railfreight, appointed by Cemex to manage all train movements at Dove Holes, oversees railway operations and logistics planning. Since 2018, the company has maintained a delivery success rate of over 99%, ensuring that critical construction projects receive materials reliably. The only significant incident in recent years was an off-site derailment in the south of Manchester of a train heading for the Cemex terminal at Salford.
The partnership celebrates Victa Rail’s own thirtieth anniversary. Since 1995, Victa claims to have been providing customer-focused, sustainable freight solutions. Cemex UK, for its part, is a multinational building materials corporation with long-standing experience in rail freight. Cemex UK has reinforced its commitment to environmentally sustainable operations through its “Future in Action” initiative – the company’s global climate action and sustainability programme. Its aggregates business, combined with purpose-built facilities such as its Washwood Heath concrete sleeper factory in Birmingham, creates a strong network of rail-linked supply points throughout Great Britain.
Network Rail: enabling growth in freight
Network Rail, the UK government’s infrastructure agency, has been critical in facilitating rail movements at Dove Holes. The branch (short line) connects the quarry to the main line. It twists through the terrain into the nearby town of Buxton, allowing trains to move on efficiently to long-distance destinations. Planned upgrades, including mechanising handling processes, a new railhead and enhanced loading systems, are set to increase capacity further while reducing internal train movements.
These investments at Dove Holes suggest rail freight is here to stay. With further capacity improvements planned, the quarry is poised to transport even more aggregates without adding pressure on roads or communities. Twenty million tonnes seems less of a milestone. It seems more like just the start.