21.07.20
HS2 releases video showing their freight plan for fighting carbon emissions
Today (21st July) HS2 Ltd has released a new video showing how Britain’s new high-speed railway will deliver a greener future by opening new train paths on the existing network which can be used to move more goods by rail.
HS2: Greater capacity for rail freight features Derby-based rail freight company DC Rail, who focus on moving construction materials by rail.
They are part of Cappagh Group, a family owned group of companies that deliver construction services. In order to reduce the environmental impact of their operations, construction materials are moved by their own rail freight operating company, DC Rail.
Following a multi-million-pound investment, they are currently constructing a new rail freight terminal in Wembley, on the West Coast Main Line, that will help them offer a new rail service to customers in London.
The construction of HS2 frees up a huge amount of space on the existing railway by placing high-speed services on their own pair of tracks. Once HS2 is operation, services can run much closer together, meaning there can be more train paths to be used by freight services.
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-use railway in Europe and is effectively full, meaning there is a lack of additional space to run more freight services on it. HS2 will change that, and once further phases of the railway are built, will provide additional capacity on the East Coast and Midland main lines.
Companies like DC Rail currently already use the limited slots on the rail network for freight to move construction materials. For example, materials delivered by rail are being used to construct new homes, schools and hospitals across the country.
One freight train can carry enough material to build 30 houses, and in London, over 40 per cent of construction materials are delivered by rail.
76 lorries are removed from our roads with each freight train, which currently amounts to 1.5 billion few kilometres a year by heavy goods vehicles, or more than seven million lorry journeys.
Freight trains also shorten many road journeys by delivering goods to a central logistics terminal, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery goods to businesses and consumers.
Infrastructure Management Director at HS2 Ltd, Ben Rule said: “HS2 will unlock much-needed capacity on the West Coast Main Line, and eventually on the East Coast and Midland main lines as well. This additional space can be used by both passenger and freight services that will reduce car and lorry journeys, reducing the amount of carbon emitted by transport, and helping Britain reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.”
David Fletcher, Director of Rail, Cappagh Group of Companies said: “Using the rail network to move goods is vital in order to take lorries off roads and reduce carbon emissions in Britain. We are committed to expanding our operations, demonstrated by our investment in a rail freight terminal in Wembley, but it is the arrival of HS2 that will be vital as it will provide more space on Britain’s railways for us to do more.”
Image & Video: High Speed 2 Ltd