GB Railfreight And Drax Unveil The Eco Express
By Pritha Dey
GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Drax Power Limited (Drax) celebrated their partnership in delivering renewable energy with the unveiling of a special locomotive at the National Railway Museum in York on January 18, 2012.
The Eco Express has been named to reflect the efficient movement of renewable and sustainable biomass material from the Port of Tyne in South Shields to Drax Power Station, near Selby.
The name was chosen by Sophie English, aged nine, winner of a children’s competition at the Great Yorkshire Show. She was guest of honor to unveil the class 66 locomotive, number 66734, with John Smith, managing director of GB Railfreight and Drax chief executive Dorothy Thompson.
John Smith said, “I am very pleased to name this locomotive The Eco Express and congratulate Sophie on her competition win.”
A year since freight trials began, GBRf currently moves 500,000 tonnes of biomass fuel from the Port of Tyne to Drax, where it is burnt to produce low carbon, cost effective, reliable and flexible electricity.
GBRf’s ground-breaking biomass business helped the company pick up the top prize for Freight and Logistics Achievement at the National Rail Awards 2011.
