DCRail begins cross-London aggregates flow that 'goes against laws of running freight trains'

DCRail has started operating a new cross-London freight flow that takes between 40 and 50 lorries off the road every time it runs.

The freight operator is moving recycled road material (known as reclaimed asphalt pavement, RAP) for Aggregate Industries between Colnbook (just west of Heathrow) and Purfleet in Essex.

The turns started in October, with three trains running between Thursday and Sunday via north London. The new flow is on a when-required basis, with several weeks sometimes passing between each series of trains.

Damien Preece, general manager for rail at Aggregate Industries,

said: “It’s very short haul, where rail shouldn’t be able to work going from west to east London.”

Trains are limited to 14 box wagons owing to the siding length at Purfleet. But each still carries 1,050 tons of RAP, which is mixed with new aggregate material once it arrives at Purfleet.

“It goes against the laws of running freight trains, which are big volumes over long distances,” added Preece.

“That’s why, historically, we’ve loaded it onto lorries and run it round the M25. I’m pleased we’re not adding another load of lorries every time.”

As of December 10, ten trains had run carrying more than 10,000 tonnes of material.

David Fletcher, Group Director for Rail at Cappagh Group, said the flow, which tends to involve one train on Thursday/Friday and two on Saturday-Sunday, showed how rail can compete with the road industry.

“For rail to compete, we’ve got to get away from a five-day railway. We’ve got to move to seven,” he said.

“Lorries run seven days a week. Trains need to.”

The two companies are looking at other routes for similar services, including a potential Greenwich- Purfleet flow.