Until recently, 2018 to be precise, the 4,58 hectare plot off the A5 Edgware Road in North London housed light industrial units. Fast forward a couple of years, and a major transformation has taken place. The site is now a pioneer of environmentally friendly business, being the host of the UK’s first net zero-emission terminal.
The Cricklewood rail freight terminal belongs to DB Cargo’s UK branch. It enables the transport of aggregates and waste construction material in and out of the capital, significantly reducing congestion on London’s already crowded road network, DB says. The company’s trains carry the equivalent of 129 heavy goods vehicles and reduce emissions by 76 per cent.
However, the story of modal shift decarbonisation and decongestion is already a well-known one. “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,” DB Cargo UK’s sustainability manager Stacie Scullion commented.
Good for the environment and nearby residents
And thus, the company set about making its Cricklewood terminal more environmentally friendly. “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’, Scullion explained.
Cricklewood now has a green acoustic barrier with native foliage to reduce noise pollution. It welcomes regular avian visitors, has its own irrigation system and, DB says, provides a natural carbon sink for the location. The company has also allowed nature to reclaim space on unused land.
DB Cargo UK published a video showing Cricklewood’s acoustic barrier:
Moreover, used water is captured and recycled, and the site runs exclusively on renewable energy. DB Cargo UK uses HVO, rather than diesel, to fuel on-site machinery. It has also invested in more fuel-efficient variations of said machinery, such as a new Volvo L180H Wheel Loader and a new Liebherr LH40C loading machine.
“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.”