Reopened Horton Quarry rail link marks 150 years of freight
Industry event sees unveiling of commemorative locomotive, aptly named Settle & Carlisle 150
HEIDELBERG Materials UK have hosted an event at Horton Quarry in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to celebrate the reopening of the site’s rail link and the 150th anniversary of rail freight on the Settle–Carlisle line.
Horton Quarry has been producing limestone and high-quality gritstone since 1889. Its original rail siding was removed in 1965 but the newly constructed rail terminal is, once again, allowing aggregate to be delivered to construction projects across the North West by rail.
The event was organized in conjunction with GB Railfreight (GBRf), who run the freight services, and the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust. It brought together customers, industry representatives, and other interested parties to see the quarry’s new rail link as well as the unveiling of a commemorative GBRf-Heidelberg Materials-liveried locomotive, aptly named Settle & Carlisle 150.
‘The first freight train ran on the Settle–Carlisle line in August 1875, and the reopening of our rail link at Horton Quarry is a perfect way to mark this anniversary,’ said Becky Murphy, aggregates regional director at Heidelberg Materials UK.
‘The investment is part of our strategy to improve our network of rail-connected quarries and depots and to help deliver our sustainability commitments.
‘Each rail movement allows us to supply around 1,650 tonnes of high-quality aggregate across the north-west of England, reducing vehicle journeys on the wider road network and cutting associated CO2 emissions.’
John Smith OBE, chief executive officer of GBRf and Trustee of the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust, said: ‘In a year of milestones, we are proud to name our locomotive after this special railway line. Like rail freight, the Settle and Carlisle line has played a key role in driving the economy.
‘Since 2019, we’ve had a fantastic partnership with Heidelberg Materials UK, moving six million tonnes of aggregates and cement nationally. Now, with this new rail link, we can continue to move more aggregates via rail out of Horton Quarry to projects across the North West, reducing emissions in the local area.’
The Settle–Carlisle line is one of Britain’s most famous and scenic rail routes, including 20 viaducts and 14 tunnels along its 72-mile length. It connects communities between Leeds and Carlisle and provides access to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The work to reinstate the rail link at Heidelberg Materials’ Horton Quarry has been carried out by Duo Group, VolkerRail, and AECOM, in partnership with Network Rail.
