20.12.16
GB Railfreight signs biomass haulage contract
GB Railfreight has been awarded a contract to provide 50 new purpose built high capacity biomass hopper wagons for Lynemouth Power Limited.
The hoppers are due to start service on 1 October 2017, transporting biomass between Port of Tyne and Lynemouth Power Station.
GB Railfreight held a contract with RWE npower to run coal freight along the same line until April 2015.
John Smith, managing director of GB Railfreight, said: “This new contract shows the strength of our company. At a critical time for investment in the rail freight industry, we are very proud we are able to continue to grow in this environment.”
Freight activity has been declining recently, mainly due to the shrinking coal industry. However, the latest figures from the ORR also show that the ‘Other’ category of freight, which includes biomass, had experienced its first year-on-year drop since 2011.
GB Railfreight recently changed hands from Groupe Eurotunnel to EQT Infrastructure II.
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