DB Schenker has accepted a new fleet of 12 wagons from Nottinghamshire based manufacturer WH Davis to be used on rail freight services for Tarmac, the UK’s largest quarrying company and leading supplier of construction materials.
The wagons, each capable of hauling over 75 tonnes of product, will be put into immediate operation for the transportation of aggregate around London and the South East.
The wagons are unique in design in that they have a body that is placed much higher than conventional bottom discharge wagons.  This enables the aggregate to be discharged onto a mobile conveyor system for unloading into areas with limited space.  The result is that product can be delivered into terminals within the heart of major urban cities such as London, where it is used in the construction industry by major customers such as Tarmac.
Given the nature of the aggregates to be transported, including marine dredged aggregates, this is the first vehicle of its type to be designed using stainless steel which will extend the life of the vehicle.
The new wagons also include the most modern and efficient track friendly TF25 bogies from Axiom Rail that reduce noise pollution as well as track impact. This rail solution meets all the environmental benefits for transporting material by rail in the most efficient way. This investment by DB Schenker has ensured a rail wagon is available that meets the needs of Tarmac, ensuring this product stays on rail and away from London’s roads.
Nigel Smith, Managing Director Construction for DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd, said; “These wagons meet the specific needs of this unique service to enable it be delivered by rail.  They show that solutions exist to deliver by rail into city centres, even where space is tight for unloading.”
Mark Joel, Executive Director, Tarmac South East region, said: “These new, cutting edge wagons form part of Tarmac’s long-term commitment to using its rail freight network where possible. This latest initiative ensures that our customers across the South East will benefit from more efficient delivery of our materials to sites and reduced environmental impact with lower carbon emissions.”
Ian Whelpton, Sales & Marketing Director of WH Davis, said:  “We are delighted to have delivered these new wagons to DB Schenker.  The delivery meets their desire to invest in order to improve operations for customers and we are delighted to be working with them.”
