HS2: A milestone in reducing carbon emissions with "Materials by Rail" programme

HS2: A milestone in reducing carbon emissions with "Materials by Rail" programme
© hs2.org.uk

HS2's "Materials by Rail" programme has reached a major milestone, moving 10 million tonnes of materials to and from construction sites by rail. The initiative is part of the project's efforts to cut carbon emissions and reduce the number of lorries on the road.


HS2, the high-speed railway linking London to the Midlands and the North of England, has achieved a major milestone in its efforts to cut carbon emissions. The project has announced that it has already moved 10 million tonnes of materials by rail, well ahead of its original target, as part of its Materials by Rail programme. The initiative aims to reduce the number of lorries on the roads and cut carbon emissions by moving construction materials to and from sites by rail instead.

HS2's "Materials by Rail" programme was launched in 2020 to move 10 million tonnes of aggregates to and from construction sites by 2030, using up to 15,000 freight trains and taking up to 1.5 million lorries off the roads. However, the project has already achieved this goal in just over two years, with more than 10 million tonnes of material moved by rail.

"This is a fantastic milestone for HS2 and it was great to celebrate it with the many companies involved in delivering it. HS2 is playing an important role right now for many businesses in our region and right across the country. Once operating, it will provide the much-needed extra capacity for busy passenger journeys in local areas, as well as freeing up more space for freight, taking lorries off the roads,” said Robert Largan, MP for High Peak.

© hs2.org.uk
© hs2.org.uk

HS2 is now expected to move 20 million tonnes of aggregate across the Phase One programme, removing three million lorries from the strategic road network on 30,000 freight trains. This is a significant achievement for the project, which has been criticized for its environmental impact and the disruption caused by its construction. Reducing carbon emissions is a key priority for HS2 and the project has been working with Network Rail for several years to ensure that capacity on the rail network is available for HS2 contractors to meet their needs by rail rather than road.

“Our ‘Materials by Rail’ strategy plays a vital role in our objective to cut carbon right across the project, and we’re working hard with our joint venture companies, Network Rail, freight operators, and aggregate suppliers to make deliveries by rail where possible,” commented David Speight, Delivery Director for Main Works Civils Phase One, HS2 Ltd.

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