BFK (BAM/Ferrovial/Kier JV) has appointed GB Railfreight to transport excavated material from Crossrail’s Royal Oak Portal to Northfleet.
Crossrail tunnelling will commence at Royal Oak next month.
Excavated material generated from the tunnelling operations for the western tunnels (Royal Oak to Farringdon) will exit at the Royal Oak Portal and be transported by freight train to Northfleet, Kent.
Freight trains will travel from Westbourne Park to Northfleet via the Great Western Main Line, the Greenford Loop, West London Line and Lewisham. Up to five freight trains will operate from Westbourne Park on Mondays to Saturdays with up to four trains on Sundays.
Reinstatement of the freight rail link into the former Lafarge cement site at Northfleet from the North Kent Line is now complete.
The length of the new freight line is around 2.25km and in total 4.75km of new track has been provided.
The first freight train carrying excavated material from London to Kent is due to operate in summer 2012. The new rail line will be commissioned next month when the first test locomotive is operated over the line.
Andy Mitchell, Crossrail Programme Director said:
“Crossrail is committed to delivering the new railway in the most sustainable way possible. All the excavated material coming out of Royal Oak Portal from the western tunnels and stations will be moved by rail and water.
“The appointment of a rail freight operator and the use of the Lafarge rail link will greatly assist in reducing the level of Crossrail lorry movements in central London.”
Capacity on the WLL must be at saturation point, or will most of these movements be at night?