MP shows support for increased volumes of rail freight
Local MP backs rail freight to deliver local homes and jobs during visit to Tarmac site in Bredbury
HAZEL Grove MP, Lisa Smart, has shown her support for increasing the volume of rail freight to minimize the number of HGVs on local roads. On a visit to Tarmac and their rail freight operations in Bredbury, near Stockport, the MP was shown a freight train unloading materials carried by rail from Tarmac’s Tunstead Quarry in the Peak District.
The MP heard how a delivery by just this one freight train can provide the materials to deliver up to 30 new local homes and remove around 60 HGV movements from the A6 and local approach roads and residential streets.
The MP’s visit came on the day when Tarmac received their first rail delivery from their quarry in South Wales. Construction materials are also delivered to Bredbury from North Yorkshire, meaning a daily freight service comes into the site on average.
Speaking after the visit, Ms Smart said: ‘I am a huge supporter of rail, so it’s great to see it being used to carry the materials needed to construct the new schools, homes, and road improvements we need in the area.
‘We need to make more use of rail for freight. It’s good for the environment and we have real issues with local road congestion – the more we can move freight on to rail, the better it is for everyone.’
During the visit, the team from Tarmac explained the challenges of quarrying the vital building materials which deliver new homes, transport improvements and create new jobs and local economic growth. Forthcoming rail legislation, and ensuring that any changes enable more rail freight rather than reduce it, were also discussed.
Chris Swan, Tarmac’s head of rail for the UK and Europe, said: ‘It was a pleasure to welcome our local MP to the site and show Lisa how we sustainably deliver the materials needed to help grow the local economy and provide homes for local people, while minimizing the impact on residents in and around the area. We believe that Bredbury and sites like it will enable us to support the Government's house-building targets over the coming years.’
Huw Merriman, representing the Rail Freight Group, added: ‘It was great to meet Lisa and demonstrate the benefits of rail freight, from the reduction in pollution, road damage and congestion, to the public good which Tarmac’s products deliver to help provide new homes and jobs for local people.
‘In the UK, we only deliver 7% of freight by rail and we can do much more. We are pleased that Lisa shares our ambition that proposed reforms of the railway must retain the legal certainty and pricing incentives and encourage freight growth on the railway.’
