Rail Freight Awards 2009
08 October 2009
This year over 100 people from the Rail Industry attended the 2009 Rail Freight Awards, an event which provides recognition for excellence and technical innovation within the Rail Industry.
Co-sponsored by Burges Salmon, the successful event took place in Oxford with Richard Walford, rail partner presenting the awards alongside John Smith from First GBRF, the other main sponsor.
Many of the awards promote widely recognised social objectives, including Environmental Innovation, Technical Development and Excellence in Service Delivery
A full list of the awards is as follows:
The Business of the Year Award was won by the Port of Felixstowe, following consistent promotion and encouragement of the use of rail as the primary means of transport from its delivery ports.
The Individual Contribution Award was won by John Holwell of the Malcolm Group for his dedication to the Rail Industry, and in particular his facilitation of the Malcolm Group’s takeover of the management of Daventry International Freight Terminal in June 2008.
The Freight Project of the Year Award was won by Telford and Wrekin Council, who successfully developed a rail terminal in Telford, overcoming a serious shortage of open access freight terminals in the UK, and in particular the west side of the West Midlands.
The Technical Development Award was won by VTG Rail, who during 2008 acquired 63 new JPA bogie cement wagons of a completely new design, and overcame complex problems related to the dimensions of UK terminals and requirements for bigger capacity loading equipment. The runner up was Hunslet Engine Company, owned by LH Group.
The Environmental Innovation Award was won by Associated British Ports (ABP) Hams Hall terminal, who managed to achieve a one-third reduction in fuel consumption of a reach-stacker and make an annual financial saving to the user of £84,000.
The Excellence in Service Delivery Award was won by Eddie Stobart, who achieved a specific on time delivery average of 94.4% during 2008-2009, despite significant disruptions to major rail networks. The runner up was Bircham Dyson Bell.
The Special Judges Award went to the Lafarge Cement UK for an outstanding project and its implementation. Making use of VTG’s JPA bogie wagons, Lafarge Cement UK were able to fulfill their obligations to supply the new Medway works with cement by rail, despite the closure of its Northfleet Works in Kent.