Luton South and South Bedfordshire MP Rachel Hopkins has shown her support for sustainable development by using the railway as an alternative to carrying construction materials by road.
On a visit to GRS Rail Services' freight operations in Luton, the MP was shown a freight train unloading materials carried 80 miles by rail from Tarmac’s quarry at Mountsorrel in Leicestershire. GRS Rail Services is a joint venture between GRS Group and Tarmac.
The MP heard how a single freight train delivery can provide the materials to build up to 30 new homes for Luton and South Bedfordshire residents, removing around 76 HGV movements from approach roads and residential streets.
From the railway, the train’s cargo is transferred to lorries, which deliver the materials for the last remaining miles to local construction projects. The site has recently provided materials to build the largest of Lidl’s warehouses in Europe, homes in the new village of Linmere, and a new taxiway at Luton airport. Future development projects should include Luton Town’s new stadium, road improvements, and affordable housing.
Speaking after the visit, Ms Hopkins said: "As a supporter of rail, it’s great to see that the new homes and the projects we want to see delivered in the area are being constructed in a way which is good for the environment and minimizes the impact on Luton and South Bedfordshire’s residents. Using the railway to deliver from the quarry to the site in Luton minimizes damage to the roads and reduces congestion on our local roads."
During the visit, the team from Tarmac explained the challenges of quarrying the vital building materials that deliver new homes, transport improvements, and the developments that create new jobs and local economic growth.
Chris Swan, Tarmac’s head of rail for the UK and Europe, said: "To meet the Government’s ambitions for new homes, we will need to quarry more materials. We welcome the Government’s planning and rail reforms and we’re keen to see these reforms speed up the planning process and expand access for rail freight."
Huw Merriman, representing the Rail Freight Group, added: "Rachel has a reputation as a friend of the railway, so it was great to set out the benefits of rail freight; from the reduction in pollution and congestion to the products Tarmac deliver in bulk to help provide new homes and centres of jobs for people and their families across the local area.
"In the UK, we only deliver 7% of freight by rail and can do much more. We are pleased that Rachel shares our ambition that changes to the way the railway is run should provide an opportunity for growth if the industry gets the certainty it needs to invest."
