19.12.17
GB Railfreight picks up 41 new IIA hoppers
GB Railfreight (GBRf) has taken delivery of 41 new hoppers intended to transport sand from Middleton Towers in East Anglia to Barnby Dun, Monk Bretton and Goole in Yorkshire.
The new fleet will replace the old 71 single-axle PAA wagons inherited by GBRf at the start of its contract.
Each wagon can hold up to 70 tonnes, meaning that services can be made up of reduced 14-wagon trains and still deliver the same weight.
Additionally, the wagons can travel at up to 75mph when empty, meaning the southbound 6L31 and 6L987 paths can be re-timed as Class 4s.
Responding to the arrival of the new hoppers, GBRf managing director John Smith said: “These new hoppers represent GBRf’s continued commitment to excellent customer service, to increased investment in our business and to our continued support for UK plc.
“We will be able to run shorter, faster trains ensuring timely delivery and demonstrating again the vital role that rail freight plays in keeping the UK economy going.”
The hoppers will be run on behalf of Sibelco, and Andrew Smith – Sibelco’s network logistics manager at SW Europe – said the company was delighted to see the new wagons arrive.
“The rail service provided by GBRf is an integral element in our supply of high purity Silica sand to the glass industry,” he explained. “The new wagons will enable us to continue providing our customers with a reliable, sustainable, environmentally-friendly service and avoid the need for many hundreds of lorry movements.”
Top image: GBRf
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