Freightliner Group has commenced two five-year rail freight contracts with Breedon Group plc.
Aggregate transport from quarries to key sites
On 28 June 2025, the first aggregate service under the new contract began. This service covers the transportation of aggregates from Dowlow and Shap Quarries to Breedon’s sites at Ashbury and Walsall, with additional deliveries to third-party locations.
Freightliner is using Class 70 locomotives for these operations, which are capable of hauling longer and heavier trains.
To support wagon availability, Freightliner is converting a surplus coal wagon fleet into box wagons suitable for aggregate transport. The conversions are carried out in cooperation with WH Davis and rolling stock owner Porterbrook. The work is being performed at the WH Davis facility in Mansfield.
Freightliner has also invested in a new maintenance and fuelling facility at Dowlow Quarry to support the operation of these trains.
Continuation of cement flows
The renewed cement transport contract extends an existing cooperation between Freightliner and Breedon that has been in place for over 25 years. The transport flows continue from the Hope Cement Works to Breedon’s distribution points in Dagenham, Theale, Dewsbury, and Walsall.
The agreement also includes the transportation of Alternative Raw Materials (ARM), with deliveries from Llandudno and Drax Power Station to the cement works.
Freightliner has completed infrastructure works at Earles Sidings to support the volume of rail movements associated with the Hope Cement Works.
