Blackford Rail Freight Facility

We officially launched our rail freight facility in Blackford in August 2022 and this milestone project remains Scotland’s first dedicated facility to open in over a decade. It enables our business to transport goods in a sustainable way from manufacturing in Scotland to external warehousing in England, removing 8,000 HGV movements from the road and saving over 3,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.

Since commencing operations in January 2023, and In partnership with John G Russell Transport, six trains are leaving the facility each week transporting around 40% of our finished goods to customers. We continue to look at ways to maximise the potential of the facility, including exploring opportunities to bring raw materials to site by rail.

Our facility has been sensitively designed to minimise noise and visual impact on the community. Throughout the project’s lifespan, we have maintained regular communication with the community, incorporating their suggestions, such as the creation of a fruit orchard for everyone to enjoy. And, in collaboration with rail contractor Story, we upgraded the path to the local cemetery, leaving a positive and lasting legacy.

This project has been a collaborative effort with key partners, including Transport Scotland, Network Rail, and the Scottish Government. In recognition of our commitment to sustainable transport, the facility received the ‘Contribution to Sustainable Transport’ award at the 2023 Scottish Transport Awards and the ‘Freight & Logistics Achievement of the Year’ at the National Rail Awards.