DB Cargo UK will run more than 15 train services a week under a new 10 year deal with Day Group, keeping the equivalent of more than 190 truckloads a day from the congested roads of South East England.

Under the contract DB Cargo is providing rail services moving sea dredged aggregates from Cliffe in Kent to depots at Crawley, Purley, Tolworth, and Battersea. The aggregates are used for the production of concrete and in general construction. The material is currently being used to support construction projects in London including the Battersea Power Station development and the Northern Line extension.

“We look forward to continuing to play a key part in the construction supply chain,” said David Fletcher, Head of Construction at DB Cargo UK. “The contract also strengthens DB Cargo UK’s market leading position.”

“The strong relationship with DB Cargo is essential to our business,” said Nick Sadler, Operations Director at Day Group, “and the flexibility of DB Cargo to meet the changing requirements of the South East construction market was key to the renewal of our contract.”

Additional rail services provided by DB Cargo transport incinerator bottom ash from the energy to waste plant at Newhaven to Brentford where the material is processed into aggregates for use in construction. The train that delivers the ash is then reloaded with recycled aggregates for distribution from Newhaven. This provides an unusual two-way rail movement of bulk products and further increases the environmental benefits of rail transportation.

The contract includes growth in traffic volumes through additional services to new concrete plants and for further ash services. DB Cargo is also introducing high-capacity rail cars to support the expected growth in volumes.

DB Cargo UK is the UK’s largest rail freight company operating services for sectors including construction, automotive, intermodal, steel and coal.