HS Case Study Banner
  1. We are WSP
  2. What we do
  3. Projects
  4. Blackford Rail Freight Facility for Highland Spring Group

Blackford Rail Freight Facility for Highland Spring Group

We collaborated with Highland Spring Group and Network Rail on a facility that will reduce annual carbon emissions by 3,200 tonnes and remove 8,000 lorry movements each year from the roads.

Location

  • Scotland - UK

Client

  • Highland Spring Group

Project Status

  • Completed

Highland Spring Group is one of the leading UK producers of natural source water. From its headquarters in Blackford, Perthshire, it bottles around 450 million litres of water every year. With a core purpose to provide hydration in an environmentally sustainable way and an ambition to be net zero by 2040, Highland Spring Group wanted to reduce its carbon footprint – 29% of which comes from transport.

The Blackford site is located close to the rail network providing the perfect opportunity for a rail freight facility, which, once fully operational, will enable every single freight train to replace the long-haul journey of 22 lorries. WSP provided multidisciplinary design and construction support services during the project – including ecology surveys, rail, civils, electrical, CDM, contract management and quality services – and worked collaboratively with Network Rail, Highland Spring Group and John G Russell (Transport) Limited, a leading logistics company that will operate the facility. 

fewer lorry movements each year
8,000
tonnes of carbon emissions saved every year
3,200
trees planted
2,000

It was originally envisaged that the site would be connected to the rail network using an existing rail connection at the north end of the site. However, this would have resulted in trains entering and exiting the site blocking the main line and level crossing in the village of Blackford for around 12-15 minutes at a time.

During design development, an opportunity for a new southern connection was identified which would future-proof the project for Network Rail requirements such as potential electrification of the Dunblane to Perth rail network and enhancements to passenger and freight services. It would also deliver operational improvements and benefits for the local community. However, the new connection would require reacquiring planning consent due to the variation to the original consented scheme.

recycled railway sleepers, saved 180m3 of concrete
1,358
train replaces 22 lorries
1
less CO2 with rail freight
75%

With all parties working closely, the revised scheme was shared with the local community in advance of the planning application being submitted. This provided the community with an opportunity to review the changes and benefits of the southern connection and discuss any concerns directly with Highland Spring Group. Planning permission for the revised scheme was granted and Network Rail delivered the new connection in advance of the construction of the freight facility.

The final design wasn’t the easiest option technically, but will provide long-term benefits to the environment, the local community and Highland Spring Group’s business.

Changing to a southern connection removed the requirement for the level crossing to close when the train enters and exits the facility. The connection also provided additional space within the  facility to  accommodate an additional rail wagon increasing the size of the train from 20 to 22 containers. With the Scottish Government aiming to decarbonise the railway by 2035, there is the potential for the facility to use electric rail freight in the future, further reducing emissions. 

The project has also considered wider environmental and social factors. Located next to the Allan Water, the flood risk of the site was assessed and the civils and drainage scheme  designed for a 1 in 200-year flood event with an additional provision for climate change. A natural swale also forms part of a sustainable drainage system. 

This project is an excellent example of business and government working together to create positive social, economic and environmental benefits through shared objectives. I hope the success of the Blackford project shows what’s possible and encourages other businesses to invest in rail.

Sustainability was considered at every stage of the project with recycled materials such as railway sleepers used wherever possible. To raise the level of the site to that of the existing railway, we worked with civils contractor Luddon Construction  to minimise imported material (and therefore lorry movements through the village) by stabilising the existing soils. 

The facility has been sensitively designed to minimise noise and visual impact on the community. To make a positive impact, 2,000 trees have been planted including a new fruit orchard for the community to enjoy. Upon completion of the works, rail contractor Story, upgraded the path to the local cemetery for the community.  

The culture of collaboration has been dubbed the ‘Spirit of Blackford’. This project has shown what you can achieve when you break down barriers and build trust between parties.

With rail freight an increasingly popular option across the UK as businesses look to cut their carbon footprint and improve their operations, Blackford provides a template for others to follow.

Demonstrating our commitment and support to Highland Spring has enabled WSP and Highland Spring Group to develop a collaborative and trusted relationship. This has resulted in supporting Highland Spring Group with other projects enhancing cross-selling across the business and providing a full package of experts and services to a valued client.

Other challenges that we have overcome