Freightliner wins contract to convey Mendip Rail aggregates

Freightliner has won the Mendip Rail aggregates contract, and will start operating the trains from November 1.

Under the contract, FL is expected to haul some eight million tonnes annually (107,000 wagonloads). The trains will run from quarries at Merehead and Whatley to terminals in London and the South East. The product is used for various schemes including housing and roads.

The operator has not revealed the length of the contract, but RAIL understands it is for more than ten years. DB Cargo UK had serviced the contract since the start of privatisation.

Mendip Rail is a joint venture between Hanson and AI.

The deal includes transfer of ownership to FL of eight Class 59s that were purchased at the end of 2018. They were previously owned by Aggregates Industries (59001/002/004/005) and Hanson Aggregates (59101-59104).

“With this new contract, Freightliner is privileged to serve two customers that are critical to the UK construction market,” said FL Chief Executive Officer Gary Long.

“By adding one of the largest bulk haulage contracts in the UK, we are also adding to the foundation of our long-term bulk business, as we have successfully replaced traffic losses caused by the collapse of the UK coal industry in 2015.”

This is a further blow for DB. While still Britain’s largest freight operator, it reported a 9% decrease in the amount of freight moved, according to figures for July- September 2018 released by the Office of Rail and Road at the end of 2018 ( RAIL 869), with its overall market share falling to 38%.

Freightliner Heavy Haul (which would include aggregates operations) experienced a 15% rise in freight lifted, according to the figure. Its other activities dropped 4%.

Six Class 59/2s owned by DB but used on the MR contracts will be used by the company elsewhere. These were bought from National Power by EWS.