United effort to maintain power supplies during crisis

GB Railfreight (GBRf) is working with Drax to maintain supplies of the sustainable biomass needed for the power station to generate electricity during the Covid-19 crisis.

Severe storms and flooding in the area near Drax in February resulted in damage to the rail tracks.

GBRf has rescheduled rail deliveries and maximised capacity on the rail link while repairs are completed – maintaining the provision of biomass required for Drax to generate enough renewable electricity for up to four million households.

Rail planners joined forces with train drivers, signal controllers, Network Rail train marshals and Drax logistics specialists to restore flows of sustainable biomass to the power station.

John Smith, managing director of GB Railfreight, said: “GB Railfreight is playing its part in supporting the UK’s Covid-19 response by helping to keep essential services running across the country.

“Our partnership with Drax Power Station in Yorkshire 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 per cent of the UK’s electricity needs.”

Drax CEO, Will Gardiner, said: “The teams who are working tirelessly across the UK 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.

“As teams work around the clock to keep generating the power the country needs, their health, safety and wellbeing are vital.

“Across all our sites we have implemented strategies to reduce the chances of spreading the virus and have operational plans in place to ensure continued delivery of power into the grid.

“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 south.”

Nick King, group director, Network Services for 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.

“Recent flooding in this area brought additional challenges to keeping services moving. However, the hard work and dedication of our people has meant vital supplies of sustainable biomass have continued to be transported.”