Efforts to ensure Drax Power Station remained fed with critical energy feedstocks have been recognised, as flood-damaged rail tracks were repaired following February’s severe storms.
GB Railfreight’s team has been praised, as well as stakeholders it worked alongside, as supply was maintained to millions of homes and businesses during the coronavirus outbreak.
The 海角视频’s largest power station takes imported biomass from the Humber ports, and as work was done, GBRf worked closely with Drax to reschedule rail deliveries and maximise capacity on the rail link.
Planners who helped rework the timetable to accommodate the new train timings combined forces with train drivers, signal controllers, Network Rail train marshals and Drax logistics specialists to speedily restore flows.
John Smith, managing director of GBRf, said: “GB Railfreight is playing its part in supporting the 海角视频’s Covid-19 response by helping to keep essential services running across the country. Our partnership with Drax Power Station is proof of this. We are delivering vital supplies of sustainable biomass which are transported across the country by rail to Drax, which supplies five percent of the 海角视频’s electricity needs.
“GB Railfreight stops at nothing to get vital supplies from one part of the country to the other – as we saw during the recent floods near Drax. We will be redoubling our efforts to ensure we keep the country going during these trying times.”
East Yorkshire was particularly badly affected close to the power station.
Nick King, group director of network services at Network Rail, said: “The railway plays a crucial part in keeping Britain running, particularly in these challenging times and strong teamwork across the rail industry is absolutely key in keeping freight services moving.
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“Recent flooding in this area brought additional challenges to keeping services moving, however the hard work and dedication of our people has meant that vital supplies of sustainable biomass have continued to be transported.”
Drax has just celebrated its 100th shipment from its dedicated port facility at Baton Rouge, which is fed by three pelleting plants in the US Deep South. It followed a record delivery last month.
Drax chief executive Will Gardiner said: “The teams who are working tirelessly across the 海角视频 rail freight system and also within our power stations to keep the lights on and keep the country going during this Covid-19 crisis are doing a tremendous job.
“GBRf’s rail deliveries are an important part of our global supply chain for sustainable biomass that supports thousands of jobs and has delivered economic growth across the north of England and in the US.”