WH Davis, the UK’s only remaining freight wagon manufacturer has secured a major contract with Beacon Rail Leasing for the conversion of 46 coal hopper wagons to box wagons. The work is to be conducted at WH Davis’s site at Langwith Junction during 2021
The contract involves the recycling and overhaul of key components including bogies, wheelsets and brakes, from HHA coal hoppers for re-use on WH Davis’s MegaBox. This box wagon will have a capacity of 75 cubic meters, which is 25% more than most conventional UK Box wagons. The increased capacity will allow the customer to use the boxes with a broader range of products. The design has been developed by WH Davis’s in-house design team, and will be manufactured and assembled at their Langwith Junction site facility. Asset repurposing projects of this nature allow cost-effective solutions to be realised by re-cycling existing equipment and components.
Along with a new customer, WH Davis has developed a new supplier relationship with Derby based Yellow Rail, who will be playing a key part in the project by managing the removal and overhaul of the re-cycled components. This includes the bogies, wheelsets and brakes, along with recycling of the HHA body. Managing Director of Yellow Rail, Andy Kevins comments: “we are delighted to have the opportunity to support WH Davis on this high-profile project, which demonstrates the sector’s ability to adapt its assets to changes in market needs.”
The approvals process will be handled by TUV UK, part of the international TUV group, also based in Derby.
Les Bryant, Engineering Director for WH Davis Group said: “This project shows the depth of experience, knowledge and skills available in the UK Rail Freight sector, to deliver cost effect projects for customers, and by using the ability of a broad range of UK suppliers with specific skills, continues to help the UK economy, along with the bonus that the use of recycled components helps to reduces the carbon foot print against the production of totally new wagons.”
Adam Cunliffe, Beacon Rail’s CEO, commented: “This contract marks the first collaboration between Beacon Rail and WH Davis to support the reuse of HHA Coal Hoppers into the sustainable WH Davis Megabox design. This project is a significant development and represents the close cooperation and agility of both companies.”
