DP World named RFG's Business of the Year
DP World was named Business of the Year at the RFG Awards 2024, held yesterday evening (5 September). It also won the Driving Rail Freight Growth award for its significant investment in an ambitious project to improve modal shift. By offering customers a financial incentive to use rail freight, the share of freight units being moved by rail from the port of Southampton in the first six months of the project increased by two-thirds.
The company has also improved cargo handling safety by introducing the world’s first remote pinning station and its UK ports are now diesel-free following an operational switch to HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil). The fourth berth at DP World London Gateway is the world’s first all-electric berth – more evidence of its commitment to decarbonise logistics for its customers.
Another significant winner was Freightliner, which won the Rail Freight Project of the Year as well as the Sustainability & Safety Award.
Freightliner won the Project of the Year in partnership with Network Rail, Mendip Rail, AIlied Industries and Heidelberg Materials UK, for the Mendip Train Plan Recast. The judges said the task undertaken was mammoth, involving multiple businesses and organisations, as well as huge amounts of data collection and analysis. “The performance statistics prove that the new timetable is both robust and flexible and is an inspiration to others who may have thought such a project is impossible to achieve.”
The Innovation & Talent Award was won by the partnership of VTG Rail UK and Knorr Bremse Rail Systems UK for the iWagon which the judges described as “a genuine innovation which is likely to have an impact on the rail freight industry as a whole”.
Outstanding Individual Contribution was awarded to Aaron Rostron-Barrett from RSSB, while the Young Rail Freight Professional winners were Barnaby Nash, Freightliner and Ben Turner, GB Railfreight.
Daniel Louisy, founder and managing director of Ashville Holdings, was given a Special Award for his work in helping to promote the benefits of rail freight to the wider public, helping attract potential employees and customers.
The judges said the entries showed some amazing innovations and developments across the country and that it was very encouraging to see the range and quality of work being done in all parts of the rail freight sector. They added that the level of collaboration and cooperation throughout the supply chain is also very impressive.
Full list of winners
Driving Rail Freight Growth
Runner-Up: Freightliner
Winner: DP World Southampton
Sustainability and Safety
Runner-Up: Direct Rail Services
Winner; Freightliner
Innovation & Talent
Runner-Up: Mandy Rail
Winner: VTG Rail UK and Knor Bremse Rail Systems UK
Special Award
Daniel Louisy, Ashville Holdings
Rail Freight Project of the Year
Runner-Up: Network Rail and GBRTT
Winner: Freightliner
Outstanding Individual Contribution
Runner-Up: Richard Mannion, Freightliner
Winner: Aaron Rostron-Bennett, RSSB
Young Rail Freight Professional
Joint winners:
Barnaby Nash, Freightliner
Ben Turner, GB Railfreight
Business of the Year
DP World