Construction of the freight railway project at Lafarge in Northfleet

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The first train has run on Britain's newest industrial railway.

Lafarge, the cement giant that owns and operates the former quarry at Northfleet, invested millions of pounds in restoring an old freight line.

The new 2.25km loop, with 4.75km of new track, links the mainline near Ebbsfleet International Station with its historic site - formerly operated by Blue Circle Industries - alongside the Thames.

GB Railfreight trains will carry spoil to the site from the Crossrail tunnel project between Royal Oak and Farringdon.

From Northfleet, the material will be transferred by ship to regeneration sites, including a new RSPB nature reserve at Wallasea Island, Essex.

Up to five freight trains will operate from Westbourne Park on Mondays to Saturdays with up to four trains on Sundays. The first test train successfully completed the inaugural journey ahead of the line's official opening next month.

David Simms, Lafarge Cement's Kent-based land and planning director, said: "Northfleet, until recently the location of the UK's largest cement works, is a site with a long history of rail use and is key to the sustainable onward distribution of essential construction materials for the built environment. Our involvement with the Crossrail project marks the latest stage in our vision for the 104-acre Northfleet site and delivers on our commitment to sustainable regeneration."

Andy Mitchell, Crossrail programme director, added: “The reinstated Northfleet rail link has been successfully commissioned with the operation of the first test locomotive by GB Railfreight. This new rail link will help us minimise lorry use in central London, as well as ensuring the efficient transfer of excavated material to sites where it can be best used for environmental improvement.”

Tunnelling for Crossrail will produce around six million tonnes of material which will be excavated from constructing the 21km twin-bore tunnel. Close to 100% of the excavated material is expected to be clean, uncontaminated and reusable elsewhere.