Aggregates supplier Hanson has reopened the railhead serving its Penmaenmawr quarry in north Wales as part of a UK rail strategy to reduce vehicle movements and cut associated CO2 emissions.
Hanson says it has invested approximately £300,000 to repair, renew and refurbish the facility. This includes upgrades to the railhead conveyor which was last operational in 2012, prior to which the railhead was used on a regular basis to supply rail ballast to Network Rail.
The first service, operated by GB Railfreight, transported stone from the Penmaenmawr quarry to Hanson’s Tuebrook depot near Liverpool. The service was a trial to test equipment and uncover any operational or logistical issues in the supply chain within the quarry and to the railhead.
Hanson says it aims to load one train per week to deliver rail borne aggregates into markets in the north west of England. The volume of material transported in each load will be dependent on its destination and the capacity of the network.
Hanson’s aggregates regional director Becky Murphy commented: “The reopening of our Penmaenmawr railhead is the first step towards re-establishing the long-term economic viability of the quarry, which also underpins the supply of asphalt and concrete products and so supports a number of local jobs both directly and indirectly.”
