Train deliveries make a welcome return

We’re chuffed to bits to be taking deliveries of aggregates by train.

We have made an arrangement with private rail operator DC Rail to freight thousands of tonnes of spent aggregates each year to our recycled aggregates site on Syston St East in the city centre.

With each rail delivery bringing the equivalent of 81 lorry loads of material, the move will result in significant emissions savings as well as enhancing productivity at our quarry.

Darren Thompson, site manager at Aggrecycle, expects our site will become a hub for the collection of aggregates arising from demolition projects, with waste such as brick, concrete and asphalt arriving from all over the UK and then being used on construction sites around the Leicester area.

Initially the rail service will use existing infrastructure adjacent to the Aggrecycle site. Subject to the success of the project, we believe new rail infrastructure could be installed on site within the next 12 to 18 months.

“This is a development which has been eight years in the making,” says Darren, “and now that infrastructure projects are proceeding at pace around the UK, the time is right for us to make this new arrangement with DC Rail.

“We are one of very few urban recycling quarries in the country which has a rail feed, so it’s an exciting move. The Government is keen for more transport to be done by rail, rather than road, so we’re excellently placed to benefit.

“Leicester is positioned at the heart of the country so we can take deliveries from anywhere and send our high quality recycled product back out to any location, particularly locally. The cost savings and reduction in carbon footprint are significant, so we’d certainly encourage construction companies to consider the benefits that the use of recycled aggregates can bring.”