DB Cargo UK has announced that its Cricklewood terminal in North London has become the UK’s first net zero rail freight terminal. The facility has undergone a series of sustainability upgrades to significantly reduce its carbon footprint, and plays a key role in transporting aggregates and construction waste in and out of London.
While rail freight already offers significant environmental benefits - each DB Cargo train takes up to 129 lorries off the road and produces 76 per cent less CO₂ emissions - the company has implemented additional measures to further improve sustainability at Cricklewood. These include the installation of one of Europe's largest green noise barriers. This reduces noise and dust, while providing a habitat for wildlife. The site has also been replanted with native tree species. A water recycling system has been installed.
Energy efficiency has been a priority: The facility is now entirely powered by REGO-verified renewable energy. DB Cargo UK has also converted its on-site machinery from diesel to hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO). This has reduced Scope 1 emissions by 98 tCO₂e per year. New fuel-efficient machinery has been introduced, which has had a positive impact on overall fuel consumption, and a drive-through wheel wash system has been installed to improve water efficiency.
“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,” said Stacie Scullion, Sustainability Manager of DB Cargo UK.
