CEMEX Increases Use of Sustainable Transport Methods with Opening of New Birmingham Rail Depot

Following a significant investment and the completion of major infrastructure works the new depot, which is located in Small Heath, has welcomed its first train and moving forward will receive aggregates from CEMEX’s Dove Holes Quarry. From there, the material will be transported out to construction projects in the Birmingham market. 
Dave Hart, Supply Chain Director for the UK and France, commented: “As the UK’s second largest city, Birmingham plays an important role in our strategy to focus on metro markets and the opening of this depot will allow us to increase volume and service provision – we are anticipating four trains per week will pass through this depot.
“However, the opening of the Small Heath rail depot will not just allow us to further grow our business; it also offers considerable sustainability benefits as it will enable us to maximise the use of rail as a more efficient means of transport for our products. Potentially, this depot could mean 17,000 less trucks on the road each year, with an approximate annual CO2 saving of 2,200 tonnes.”
CEMEX has partnered with GB Railfreight, Network Rail and leading aggregates distributor GRS to ensure a smooth operation and service at its Small Heath depot. 
Liam Day, Commercial Director of GB Railfreight, said: “With the global climate change conference currently underway, CEMEX’s investment in its new depot demonstrates the key role rail freight is playing in reducing the impact of carbon emissions. This increase in capacity will enable us to operate more trains into Small Heath and will remove congestion from some of Birmingham’s busiest roads.”
David Young, Network Rail's Business Development Manager for Freight, added: "Network Rail’s investment in the infrastructure was pivotal in supporting the delivery of CEMEX’s new rail aggregate depot at Small Heath. We are proud to have worked with CEMEX to enable rail freight growth in this important sector, encourage modal shift from road to rail and support decarbonisation targets.”

Martin Reid, Director of GRS Rail Services, said: “We’re delighted to be working with CEMEX to help to supply Birmingham’s construction industry with materials for redevelopment. The new facilities at Small Health support the use of rail freight to bring construction aggregates close to where they’re needed in the city whilst generating a fraction of the emissions of the equivalent road journeys."
CEMEX’s use of trains to move its building materials is growing year on year, with considerable efforts being made by the business to switch from road freight to rail and sea. In 2020, the increased use of rail transport saved 150,000 road movements & 17.5kt of CO2 from being released into the air. 

Ends.

Notes to Editors: 

About CEMEX:
CEMEX is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. CEMEX is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. CEMEX is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain, and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the use of new technologies. 
CEMEX offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience, enabled by digital technologies.

For media enquiries please contact Sarah Murphy; email: sarah.murphy@cemex.com or call 07557 319972