Hope Construction Materials and DB Schenker Rail UK have laid solid foundations for their future partnership by signing a five-year contract for comprehensive transport services.
The two companies celebrated by further cementing their relationship when DB Schenker Rail UK’s Class 60 locomotive (60044) was named Dowlow, in honour of the company’s Dowlow Quarry in Derbyshire.
The naming ceremony was performed by Geoff Spencer, DB Schenker Rail UK’s CEO and Chris Plant, Hope Construction Materials’ CEO.
The new five-year contract covers the transport of aggregates from the quarry at Dowlow near Buxton to ten locations across Britain. In 2015 a new depot has been opened at Walsall in the West Midlands, with further depots planned to open during the contract. Coal is also conveyed twice per week from South Wales to the cement plant in Hope.
The locomotive naming ceremony took place at the official opening of Hope’s new £1.2m upgraded site in Walsall, which includes a railhead and concrete plant.
Mr Plant said: “Our investment in our Walsall plant means that we can now bring in aggregates by rail from our quarry near Buxton in Derbyshire; and we can also bring in cement by rail from our Works at Hope, which is also in Derbyshire. This in turn means that we have all the key ingredients for concrete here on one site, ready to provide a slick and efficient first class supply service to construction companies in this very busy area.
“In addition to marking the official opening of our new Walsall plant, it was a pleasure to work with DB Schenker Rail UK to officially name the locomotive, which will pull the wagons of aggregates, ‘Dowlow’.”
Mr Spencer added: “This is the beginning of a long-term partnership between DB Schenker Rail UK and Hope Construction Materials. The volumes are expected to grow significantly during the contract and we are proud to be supporting Hope Construction Materials in achieving its goals. We were delighted to name our loco 60044 in honour of Dowlow Quarry and to further cement our relationship with Hope Construction Materials, a young company that is quickly establishing itself in the British market.”
