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Optimisation of the downstream freight of the Carrières du Boulonnais (France)

  • Health and safety
  • Land-use planning
  • Permitting processes / policy integration
  • Reporting official statistics
  • Socio-economic and environmental impact assessments

Challenge the practice is addressing: The reduction of CO2 emissions by consequently reducing the use of road transport.

Concrete practice to achieve the expected goal: Carrières du Boulonnais constructed a new rail terminal "le T2020", intended for loading trains with materials extracted from the quarry. This new terminal covers more than 5.6 hectares of land and four kilometres of railway trucks have been added. Two trains can be loaded simultaneously. T2020 was equipped with two electric wagon shunting robots to increase automation, but above all to reduce noise and CO2 emissions. Additionally, the reception area for customers has been redesigned to avoid pollution: Extension of the truck exit route, completely asphalted, tarpaulin areas, two wheel washing facilities and sprinkler system.

Expected impact/goal of the practice: The electric wagon shunting robots reduced the diesel consumption of the locomotives that move the trains between the entrance to the site and the terminal by a factor of 10. The enclosed wagon loading system reduces dust and noise emissions. For the T2020 project, more than 50 suppliers from the region were recruited, therefore it has a positive impact on the region's economic situation. The annual shipping capacity has almost doubled compared to the old terminal (4 Mt compared to 2.8 Mt). CB supplies a concrete plant in the centre of Paris exclusively by rail.

Who is the target user group of the practice/intervention or implementing the practice/intervention? This practice is for companies in the extractive industries and costumers.

Hyperlink
Source
UEPG Sustainable Development Award Nominee / Groupe CB
Year
2022
Data item type
Practice base
Practice type
Industry
Format
Repository, resource libraries & toolkits
Learning relevance
Case study
Commodity
Construction minerals (aggregates)
Unspecified (universally applicable)
Extractive life-cycle
Exploitation phase
Sustainability scope
Carbon neutrality
Air emissions
System change potential
reduction of CO2 emissions by consequently reducing the use of road transport
construction of a new rail terminal