Rail freight UK

GB Railfreight (GBRf), one of the UK’s leading transporters of goods for businesses and consumers, has started a new service for Tata Steel UK, moving imported steel slab from the Port of Bristol at Portbury to the giant steelworks at Port Talbot.

GBRf will be running this service until the end of 2027 when Tata Steel’s new three million tonne-per-year Electric Arc Furnace is due to be commissioned.

The first Tata Steel train left Portbury on 3 March.

To minimise downtime and drive productivity, the Bristol Port Company is supporting GBRf with their brand-new battery-powered electro-permanent lifting magnets. These will be used to lift the slabs of steel, each of which can weigh up to 30 tonnes – around the same as 15 family cars. The special magnets will improve train preparation efficiency and minimise downtime.

Alex Kirk, Commercial Director of GB Railfreight, said: “We are always looking for innovation and ways to improve our own productivity and to provide industry-leading service for our customers. Innovations such as the new lifting magnets from Bristol Ports help us achieve this. It’s fantastic news that we’ll be moving steel for Tata for the next two years as they prepare to transition to low carbon steelmaking.”

Kerys Twinberrow, Tata Steel UK’s Manager of Deployment Operations, added: “Maintaining a reliable supply of materials for our customers is absolutely critical as we transition to green steelmaking. Collaborating with innovative and forward-thinking industrial partners such as GB Railfreight gives us the confidence to focus on implementing our £1.25 billion investment programme to sustain steelmaking in the UK.”