Bulk Ballast

01 July, 2001

"Freighliner Heavy Haul have expanded their bulk freight services with the operation of their first bulk ballast trains. The trains, run on behalf of Railtrack National Logistics Unit as an extension to the company’s existing Railtrack contract, carry ballast from various quarries to Railtrack’s regional supply centres. This takes Freightliner Heavy Haul into new areas including Conwy, Oxfordshire and Leicestershire, with the first train to run carrying ballast from Penmaenmawr Quarry to Crewe on 4 June. Other Heavy Haul bulk ballast routes include: Shap to Carlisle; Stud Farm to Bescot, Rugby, Hinksey and Forders; and Southampton Western Docks to Westbury. Alan Bone of Railtrack NLU said: ‘It is essential that we have certainty and security of supply to undertake our massive engineering works efficiently. We believe that Freightliner Heavy Haul, with their fleet of 20 Railtrack-dedicated locomotives, are capable of providing the level of service that we require.’"