Murphy Cuts 145kgCO₂e per m³ Carbon at Shipley Depot UK

SHIPLEY, UK – Construction firm Murphy has successfully used Ecocem ACT low-carbon concrete for a capping beam at the Shipley Depot project site. This application, part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), achieves a carbon saving of 145kgCO₂e per cubic metre compared to standard concrete mixes. The project is being delivered by the TRU East alliance, which includes Network Rail, VolkerRail, Siemens, and SYSTRA.

What Are the Technical Specifications?

The innovation involves substituting a benchmark CIII/A concrete mix with Ecocem ACT low-carbon concrete for permanent works on a contiguous pile wall. The specific carbon saving is quantified at 145kgCO₂e per cubic metre, a metric supported by third-party verified environmental product declarations for material sustainability. This application builds on a previous successful deployment by Murphy at Uxbridge Moor, which was the largest single pour of this material in the UK at the time. The total volume of concrete to be used for the entire Shipley pile wall, and the corresponding total carbon saving, were not disclosed.

Key Technical Data

Where Does This Technology Stand in the Market?

The use of low-carbon concrete directly addresses the challenge of embodied carbon in new rail infrastructure. While this application provides a specific, project-level saving of 145kgCO₂e/m³, major material suppliers are tackling this issue at the production level; Heidelberg Materials, for example, is targeting a 3 to 5 percent corporate-wide reduction in specific net CO2 emissions per tonne of cementitious material by 2025 (Source: Heidelberg Materials, 2025). This material-based approach complements technology aimed at reducing operational carbon. For comparison, rolling stock innovator Voltify aims to reduce more than 50 million tons of annual carbon emissions through its diesel train conversion technology, tackling emissions from fleet operations rather than construction (Source: Railway Supply, 2024).

Editor’s Analysis

The application of low-carbon concrete on a major national project like the Transpennine Route Upgrade signals a shift from niche trials to mainstream practice for reducing embodied carbon in UK rail. This focus on construction materials aligns with a broader industry push for sustainability, complementing operational goals such as the electrification planned for the £6.6bn East West Rail project (Source: Construction News, 2026). As asset owners like Network Rail pursue net-zero targets, the use of materials with verified environmental performance data is likely to become a mandatory procurement criterion for future infrastructure contracts.

FAQ

Q: What is the total carbon saving from this project?
A: The announced saving is 145kgCO₂e per cubic metre of concrete used. The total carbon saving for the entire Shipley Depot project has not been disclosed, as it depends on the final volume of low-carbon concrete required for the contiguous pile wall.

Q: Is this low-carbon concrete more expensive than traditional concrete?
A: The cost differential between Ecocem ACT and the benchmark CIII/A concrete mix was not provided in the announcement. The deployment aligns with contractor Murphy’s corporate strategy of becoming a net-positive business by 2050.

Q: How does this impact the Transpennine Route Upgrade’s schedule?
A: The use of this alternative material is not expected to alter the project’s construction timeline. The new Shipley Depot is a key enabling component for the wider TRU programme, which is designed to improve rail capacity and reliability between Manchester, Leeds, and York.