GRS has reached a milestone, delivering 20 million tonnes of primary and secondary aggregates to the HS2 project.
The delivery, through GRS subsidiary Rail Stone Solutions, reportedly accounts for more than 80 per cent of the bulk fill aggregates used along the 230km route. GRS plays a wider role in the HS2 project, supplying all of HS2’s main works contractors (Align, BBV, EKFB, and SCS).
“Despite the scale and complexity of HS2, we’re working collaboratively with customers across multiple sites to manage volume fluctuations and short-notice changes to the construction programme and material demand profile.
“On top of that, strict compliance standards for vehicles, journeys and deliveries must be met as part of the contract. So we’re proud that we’ve achieved 97.67 per cent route compliance and 100 per cent material compliance so far, even when peak material demand exceeded 21,000t per day,” GRS major projects managing director Gary Coles said.
“No single aggregates producer has the capability, customer-focus, agility or tenacity to commit to the contractual requirements of such a vast, high-profile project, with the inherent risk-share that brings. But thanks to a great in-house team, our network of material suppliers, our rail partner GB Railfreight and hundreds of local hauliers, we’ve not just reached the 20Mt milestone but also surpassed all performance expectations.”
GRS has taken a ‘rail-first’ approach with its partnership with GB Railfreight. GRS’ flexible delivery strategy has primarily seen more than 70 per cent of aggregates delivered by train. According to GRS, this approach has saved an estimated 300,000 tonnes of CO₂ due to the lower emissions from rail freight compared to road transport.
GRS expects total aggregate deliveries to exceed 25 million tonnes by project completion in 2030, with further involvement in extensive land remediation activities relating to the temporary depots and enabling works for HS2.
Following this successful approach to the HS2 project, GRS has positioned itself as one of the lead supply chain partners for major infrastructure projects.
“Over the next decade, numerous large-scale infrastructure schemes are expected to get off the ground, from renewable energy upgrades and transport projects to new reservoirs and flood defences. All of these require massive volumes of aggregates and the recovery of waste materials,” GRS chief executive officer Jon Fisher said.
“We are well-positioned to take the efficient supply of sustainable materials to the next level.”
