First construction train to Washwood Heath
GB Railfreight hauled the first HS2 construction train to Washwood Heath on August 25.
More than 150 trains will carry up to 235,000 tonnes of stone from the Peak District to the Birmingham site - the equivalent of more than 13,000 lorry movements.
Ten trains per week will each convey 1,500 tonnes of aggregate, which will be used to build a large piling platform for the Bromford Tunnel approaches, as well as embankments and haul roads around the site, cutting the number of HS2 road vehicles on public roads.
HS2 Ltd says that construction of the entire railway will involve up to 15,000 rail freight movements - or in excess of one million lorry journeys.
At the peak of Phase 1 construction post-2022, it is estimated that around 17 trains per day will serve construction, with other railheads including the logistics hub at Willesden, which will cater for up to eight trains a day from this year until 2024.
At this location, the trains will haul around six million tonnes of spoil from the Euston approaches, including from tunnel boring machines.
Almost a million tonnes of spoil from rebuilding Euston station will also be removed by rail.
And later this year, six million tonnes of aggregate for the central section of Phase 1 will also start deliveries.
Network Rail’s HS2 Programme Manager, Freight and National Passenger Operators, Nick Cole said: “Network Rail has been collaborating with HS2 Ltd and its supply chain partners on the HS2 Materials by Rail programme for the past two years.
“We’re delighted to see today’s first materials freight train to Washwood Heath, and we will continue to work closely with the programme in the years ahead to maximise the contribution that the UK rail network and rail freight can make to the construction of HS2.”
GBRf Managing Director John Smith added: “HS2 is a hugely important project for the UK.
Once it is completed it will play an
important role in helping to move more passengers on the UK rail system and by releasing capacity for rail freight.
“The start of deliveries of aggregates from Hindlow Quarry to Washwood Heath is an important step forward in the construction of HS2. GB Railfreight is proud to be playing its part in making HS2 a reality.
“Rail freight is significantly better for the environment than moving aggregates by road and the partnership between our team at GBRf, RSS and the BBV JV [Balfour Beatty Vinci Joint Venture] will move the equivalent of more than 11,000 truck movements.
“The strong partnership has been key to the success of the project so far and will support the delivery of over 235,000 tonnes of aggregates this year.”