Construction of the freight railway project at Lafarge in Northfleet

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Cement giant Lafarge has scooped a national award for its north Kent railway.

The Rail Freight Group, led by Lord Tony Berkeley, has given the restored industrial loop at Northfleet its Project of the Year Award. It was officially opened in June by the then Thames Gateway minister Bob Neill.

The accolade recognises Lafarge's achievement in re-establishing the rail connection into the riverfront site to bring spoil from Crossrail tunnelling for onward shipment to a new RSPB nature reserve at Wallasea Island, Essex.

The £13.5million line will later play a key role in transforming the former quarry into a probable business and residential area.

Judges said it was an exemplary project involving the reconnection and regeneration of what was once the UK's largest cement producing plant.

They said: "The project is already playing a key supporting role on Crossrail and promises to have a significant impact in the future. This was achieved as a fast-track initiative which was brought in on time and on budget."

Judges also commended an "excellent" safety and environmental record involving 10 major sub-contractors and up to 80 workers on site every day, as well as the "outstanding" leadership of Lafarge's land and planning director David Simms and project manager Nigel Rees.

Mr Simms said: "We are absolutely delighted to be given this very highly regarded and high profile award. It is a huge credit to the very large team of people – both Lafarge and partner organisation employees - who have worked together to realise this very successful project.

"We were particularly pleased that the judges recognised not only the technical delivery of the scheme, but also the safety record and partnership element of it."

The 2.25km line involved Crossrail, Network Rail, Balfour Beatty Rail, HS1, Gravesham and Dartford councils.