Lafarge wins another top business award for Hope Rail Project
A pioneering rail project to cut cement deliveries by road has secured a second national prize for Lafarge Cement at the Eversholt Rail Business Awards last week.
Lafarge Cement’s £20 million rail infrastructure programme at its Hope Works in Derbyshire has been announced the winner of the VTG Rail Freight Excellence Award, just months after it scooped the top prize at the Rail Freight Group’s national awards.
Launched in 1998, the Rail Business Awards are the longest established initiative to recognise business excellence in the rail industry. Lafarge Cement’s Hope Works was among 16 organisations and individuals recognised at the awards ceremony.
Lafarge’s Hope Works rail upgrade has formed a central part of a major national scheme to strengthen the delivery service it offers to customers. By transforming Lafarge’s cement distribution facility, the project has increased the volume of cement the company is able to transport via rail from Hope to 900,000 tonnes each year, while taking up to 6,800 lorry loads off the road and enhancing the sustainability of this major cement works.
At the same time, the investment has helped the plant maintain its competitive edge during a period when the construction materials market is at its most challenging.
Alaister White, National Logistics Manager for Lafarge Cement UK, comments: “We’re delighted to win this prestigious award as it reflects the ongoing hard work and dedication of those who have worked tirelessly to bring this ambitious project to fruition. At a tough time for the construction industry, it is vital that sustainability goes hand in hand with maximising business efficiency and reaching our commercial objectives. As well as reducing the environmental impact of our operations, our rail set-up gives us a competitive edge by providing greater flexibility to the supply chain and re-enforces the place of rail in our future business plans.” Published under Cement News
