‘Every aggregate freight train takes 70-75 lorries off the road’

Aggregate Industries’ CEO Guy Edwards was recently asked his views on his company’s application to quarry Straitgate Farm. Despite claiming that his company took its responsibility to the environment "very seriously", Mr Edwards failed to explain why the underlying material at Straitgate is worth the environmental cost of 2.5 million HGV miles, and the thousands of tonnes of CO2 that such a scheme would produce.

CEMEX and others have in the meantime been publicising their push to use more sustainable transport:

CEMEX's commitment to #sustainable transport methods has enabled us to transport 2 million tonnes of aggregates across the UK by rail this year. This has saved over 12,500 tonnes of #CO2 compared to using trucks 🚆 head here to read more: https://t.co/ZTtSwyeicx pic.twitter.com/kOT0PiWlwl

— CEMEX Policy EU (@CEMEXPolicyEU) December 1, 2020

Last week we delivered the first #Train into our Cricklewood Terminal on behalf @Hanson_UK and Mendip Rail Limited. As part of the new contract, DB Cargo UK will transport significant volumes of aggregates from Tytherington Quarry in Gloucestershire into London. #Freight pic.twitter.com/dNWBIo5vlN

— DB Cargo UK (@DBCargoUK) December 10, 2020

Every week DB Cargo UK transports in the region of 7,200 tonnes of china clay for @Imerys in covered hopper wagons – this removes around 11,000 lorries a year off Cornwall’s road network.#TeamRed pic.twitter.com/jWDSsXCtip

— DB Cargo UK (@DBCargoUK) November 19, 2020

10-year deal signed between @DBCargoUK and Brett Aggregates to move sea-dredged products from Ipswich, Cliffe and Newhaven. #railfreight pic.twitter.com/2PkJ5TZsgy

— Richard Clinnick (@Richard_rail) November 4, 2020

Freightliner has been awarded a new contract with the UK’s leading sustainable construction solutions company, @TarmacLtd

Under the new contract, Freightliner will haul aggregate from Tarmac's Tunstead site & their West Country quarries.#railfreighthttps://t.co/SHrugu7r4E pic.twitter.com/qndwdF1T0p

— Freightliner (@RailFreight) September 22, 2020

Every aggregate freight train takes 70-75 lorries off the road. MPA and @railfreightUK set out the benefits of rail freight for aggregates here: https://t.co/l8AESCrb0J https://t.co/PpAVyHTWty

— Mineral Products Association (@MineralProduct) August 25, 2020