Rail Freight
COLAS RAIL Freight has secured a new flow of bulk cement from Oxwellmains (Dunbar) in Scotland to West Thurrock, North Thameside. This becomes the longest haul of bulk cement in the UK. This is a new flow for Colas and builds upon the company’s expanding cement traffic portfolio from both Oxwellmains and Aberthaw in South Wales. It will replace the previous Freightliner heavy haul bulk cement from Tunstead in Derbyshire to West Thurrock. The inaugural 6L44 service ran on Tuesday 18 July 2017, hauled throughout by No 70802. By the time it had reached London the service was some 100 minutes late due to picking up a delay on the Midland main line around Corby. The return empties service ran as 4S89, the 22.48 West Thurrock to Oxwellmains, running via the East Coast main line.
![](https://fft-keymodernrailways.b-cdn.net/sites/modernrailways/files/styles/article_body/public/imported/2020-03-24/img_18-1_7.jpg?itok=-xBCT5be)