enfinium, a leading UK energy-from-waste (EfW) operator, has successfully completed an extended Waste by Rail trial at its Ferrybridge 1 facility, demonstrating the potential to transport unrecyclable waste by rail through existing local rail networks, reducing reliance on road transport and supporting more sustainable waste logistics.
The trial marked a first for enfinium, using nearby rail infrastructure to supply fuel directly to one of its facilities. The railway tracks at Ferrybridge reflect the site’s heritage as a former coal-fired power station. Throughout the 20th century, trains delivered coal to the site to generate electricity for thousands of homes and businesses. Today, enfinium is using rail freight to transport unrecyclable waste for the same purpose.
Over the six-month trial, 30 train movements delivered more than 18,000 tonnes of unrecyclable waste to the Ferrybridge 1 facility for processing. This removed more than 750 lorry journeys from the road network and avoided over 125,000 kg of carbon emissions.
In collaboration with SUEZ, Heavy Haul Rail, Hargreaves and Elite Cranes, enfinium successfully transported unrecyclable waste from Greater Manchester to its Ferrybridge 1 facility by rail between October 2025 and March 2026. The trains were unloaded overnight by the Ferrybridge operations team using the site’s overhead cranes to lift containers directly from the rail wagons. The waste was then transferred to the facility’s bunker, where it was processed and converted into reliable, homegrown, dispatchable energy.
Throughout the trial, the enfinium teams continually worked to optimise the efficiency of the Waste by Rail process and demonstrated innovative operational solutions. By the end of the trial, the time it took to offload waste from the trains had more than halved from the beginning.
Following the success of the initial trial, enfinium will explore further opportunities to receive waste by rail. Future development will support the company’s mission to manage unrecyclable waste more sustainably by reducing carbon emissions and improving operational efficiency.
Matt Hardy, Senior Commercial Manager at enfinium, said: “Successfully delivering this trial is a testament to the dedication, expertise and commitment of the entire Ferrybridge 1 rail trial team, who worked throughout the project to ensure the safe, efficient and reliable operation of this innovative waste transport solution. The trial reflects enfinium’s commitment to innovation and the development of more sustainable approaches to managing unrecyclable waste. By demonstrating the viability of rail as an alternative to road transport, we have shown how the sector can reduce emissions, improve operational efficiency and support the development of a more resilient, low-carbon waste and energy infrastructure.”
Daniel Carolan, Greater Manchester Contract Director at SUEZ, said: “We were pleased to support enfinium’s Waste by Rail trial by supplying unrecyclable waste from the Greater Manchester region. The project highlights how collaboration and innovation can help drive more sustainable waste management solutions, reducing emissions while ensuring waste is managed efficiently and responsibly.”
Richard Mannion, Head of Solution Design at Heavy Haul Rail, said: “The success of enfinium’s Waste by Rail trial demonstrates the vital role Britain’s rail network can play in delivering efficient, reliable and scalable freight solutions. By utilising key rail routes for waste transport, the project showcases how the UK’s vital railway infrastructure continues to provide significant value, supporting industrial growth, enhancing supply chain resilience and contributing to a more sustainable transport network.”
Notes to editor
enfinium’s six-month Waste by Rail trial successfully concluded in March 2026. The trial delivered 18,000 tonnes of unrecyclable waste to the Ferrybridge 1 facility for processing.
About enfinium
enfinium is a leading UK energy from waste operator with five operational sites in the UK, in West Yorkshire, Kent and Flintshire, and one in construction. enfinium diverts 2.7 million tonnes of unrecyclable waste from climate-damaging landfill, putting it to good use by turning it into home grown energy, enough to power 600,000 UK homes. enfinium’s ambition is to transform its facilities into local ‘decarbonisation hubs’ powered by the millions of tonnes of unrecyclable waste the UK will produce for decades to come. Using existing energy from waste infrastructure, enfinium could contribute to heat networks, produce electrolytic hydrogen, or use carbon capture technology to provide durable, high quality carbon removals which will be critical for the UK to achieve net zero by 2050. For more on enfinium, please visit https://enfinium.co.uk/.
