Month: February 2022

GB Railfreight educate Nottinghamshire school children about rail safety

Posted on by sam.batey@gbrailfreight.com

On Thursday 3 February, children from Crossdale School, in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, received presentations from GB Railfreight’s (GBRf) safety team about the dangers of the railway.

Rod Storer, Depot Safety Manager, and Chris Parsons, SHEQ Manager, from Rail Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC) Melton, based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, led a series of presentations adapted to suit the school’s Key Stage 1 and 2 students.

As part of an initiative to educate local communities about its operation at RIDC Melton, the sessions were based on the dedicated train testing facility, and its electrified high and low speed test tracks.

GBRf has already delivered safety talks to Asfordby Hill School, in Leicestershire, and plans to visit more schools in the East Midlands area.

Rod Storer, Depot Safety Manager, GB Railfreight, said:

“RIDC Melton can be extremely dangerous if people do not understand the risks associated with an electrified test track. We are committed to educating communities local to our operation, especially children, to ensure they are aware of the dangers that exist.

“We hope the children of Crossdale school not only found the sessions engaging and informative, but have taken on the serious message that the railway is not a playground and ignoring important rules can result in life-changing consequences.”

GB Railfreight launch new service for Brett Aggregates

Posted on by sam.batey@gbrailfreight.com

GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Brett Aggregates, independent building materials supplier, successfully launched a new aggregates service from Newhaven, East Sussex, to Thorney Mill, West Drayton, on Wednesday 19 January.

This was the first service operated by GBRf from Brett Aggregates’ Newhaven collection terminal, which is capable of receiving 10,000t cargo vessels. The train consisted of 17 wagons, transporting approximately 1,350 tonnes of aggregate destined for construction projects in South East, England.

The new service marks GBRf’s continued expansion in the Bulk market and brings opportunity to support Brett Aggregates by operating future services from its collection terminals.

Tim Hartley, Business Development Director, GB Railfreight, said:

“This new service demonstrates how transporting material by rail, which otherwise would have been taken by road, significantly reduces the environmental impact of important construction projects across the South East.”

GB Railfreight boosts sustainability by trialling new battery powered locomotive

Posted on by sam.batey@gbrailfreight.com

GB Railfreight (GBRf) has taken delivery of a Class 18 hybrid+ shunting locomotive as part of a three-month trial with Beacon Rail Leasing, marking the latest expansion of its growing fleet. 

As GBRf looks towards the future of its assets, the shunting locomotive will enable low noise and zero emissions, demonstrating a clear contribution to the challenge of meeting the UK’s net zero carbon targets.

The locomotive was delivered to Whitemoor on Tuesday 1 February, where it will undergo a series of testing to understand its capabilities and performance.

Manufactured by Clayton Equipment Ltd, the Class 18 is powered by an onboard battery that provides emissions-free operation where charging facilities are available, or through a regenerative braking system. When challenges with range or operation occur, an efficient onboard Stage V compliant engine can be utilised to increase the locomotives running time.

David Golding, Asset Director, GB Railfreight, said:

“The Class 18 hybrid+ shunting locomotive has the power to play a key role in the decarbonisation of our future fleet. Going forward, it will offer a wide range of sustainable benefits capable of significantly reducing the environmental impact of our operations.”

Rob Dee, Chief Commercial Officer, Beacon, said:

“We are very pleased to have delivered the first of our order of 15 Class 18 hybrid+ shunting locomotives, from Clayton Equipment, to GB Railfreight.  This is a key milestone in our delivery program and we look forward to working with GB Railfreight through their trial period. This locomotive will offer our customers a greener and sustainable option for railfreight operations in the UK against the backdrop of targets to reduce emissions,”.

Clive Hannaford, Managing Director, Clayton Equipment, said:

“We are very proud to supply GB Railfreight through Beacon Rail with the Class 18 locomotive. In the fast-changing environment with decarbonisation targets, the increased demand for lower emissions, new technology and more capacity, the Clayton Equipment Hybrid+ CBD90 will support GBRf with sustainable environmental benefits which meets their commitment to invest in new technology and provide real cost savings”.