DB Cargo UK has unveiled what it believes to be the UK’s first ‘net zero’ rail freight terminal, located in Cricklewood, North London. The busy site, vital for transporting aggregates and construction waste in and out of the capital, has undergone a significant environmental transformation.
While DB Cargo UK’s rail freight operations already offer substantial carbon savings compared to road transport, the company has implemented a range of innovative features to further reduce the Cricklewood terminal’s environmental impact.
Key initiatives include:
- Europe’s Largest Green Acoustic Barrier: An 18-metre high, south-facing barrier covered in 3,520m² of native foliage, providing a natural carbon sink and habitat for wildlife, while minimising noise and dust.
- Rewilding and Tree Planting: The planting of nine native tree species and the rewilding of unused land, creating an urban habitat for wildlife, including wild bees and birds.
- Water Recycling: The implementation of a surface water capture system for recycling and reusing water on site.
- Renewable Energy: Procurement of 100% REGO-verified renewable energy.
- Biofuel Transition: Switching from white diesel to Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for on-site machinery, reducing Scope 1 emissions by 98 tCO2e annually.
- Modern Machinery: Investing in fuel-efficient machinery, including a new Volvo L180H Wheel Loader, reducing fuel consumption.
- Efficient Wheel Wash: Installation of a new drive-through wheel wash with improved water filtration and energy efficiency.
- Electric Vehicle Charging: Installation of EV charging points for staff and visitors.
- Circular Economy: Reusing modular office facilities from another site, avoiding 40 tonnes of embedded carbon.
Sustainability Manager Stacie Scullion said the company is now seeking official accreditation for the site’s carbon-neutral status, aiming to set a new industry standard.
“For years now we have talked about the environmental benefits of transporting freight by rail rather than road, however we can make an even bigger contribution towards helping the UK meet its carbon reduction targets by the way we operate our sites,” she said.
“At Cricklewood we’ve tried to incorporate as much mitigation as we possibly can into our operations which not only has an environmental benefit, but a significant social value too in terms of improving the quality of life for those residents who live nearby.”
“Throughout the development of Cricklewood we have consulted closely with the council’s planning department, residents and their elected representatives, to not only minimise the risk of any disturbance caused by our operations but to enhance the area too, added Stacie.
“Cricklewood is now the jewel in our crown and will form the blueprint for the future development of our terminals across England, Scotland and Wales.”
