First Rail Delivery Marks Major Milestone For Brett Chichester Rail Siding

The first train has arrived at Brett Chichester Rail Siding, marking an important milestone for the Brett Group's expanding South Coast network and the start of regular rail deliveries into the region.

Operated by Freightliner Heavy Haul, the inaugural service delivered 1,034 tonnes of limestone from Holcim's Torr Works Quarry in Somerset. The load included Type 1 limestone and limestone scalpings, which were unloaded by Ovenden Earthmoving and are now in stock, ready to supply customers across West Sussex and the wider South Coast.

The arrival of the first train marks another significant step in establishing Chichester as a key rail-connected hub within the Brett Group's South Coast network. Transporting large volumes of aggregates into the region by rail has the positive impact of taking vehicles off the road while providing customers with a dependable source of high-quality construction materials.

Dan Haw, Sales Director at Brett Aggregates, said:

"Seeing the first train arrive at Chichester is a significant milestone. A great deal of planning and collaboration has gone into bringing the site into operation, so it's rewarding to see that work become a reality.

"More importantly, it means we're ready to support customers with high-quality materials from day one. This investment strengthens our South Coast network, giving customers greater resilience and flexibility while helping us meet demand across the region."

Ben Johnson, Area Operations Manager at Brett Aggregates, added:

"There's always a sense of anticipation before the first train arrives at a new site, so it was great to see everything come together on the day. The unloading went smoothly thanks to the preparation and teamwork of everyone involved.

"I'd like to thank our teams, together with Freightliner Heavy Haul  and Ovenden Earthmoving, for helping make the first delivery a success. It's the first of many, and we're looking forward to building stock and supporting customers across the South Coast."