01.01.07
UK New-Build freight wagons for Kenya
In October 2005, following a response to a global tender invitation, the Kenyan Magadi Soda Company awarded UK wagon builder W H Davis of Shirebrook, Notts a contract for the manufacture and supply of 104 x 66 tonne (GLW) bogie covered hopper wagons and 32 x 66 tonne (GLW) bogie tank wagons.
These additions to the existing Magadi rail fleet were linked to the building of a new purpose built manufacturing plant at Lake Magadi near Nairobi. The hopper wagons were needed to transport a new grade of soda ash to the port of Mombasa for export whilst the furl oil tanks were sourced to transport products in the opposite direction.
The invitation to tender was a global exercise and was ultimately mirrored by the component supply for the resultant wagons i.e. parts were sourced not only from the UK but also mainland Europe, South Africa, China and the USA.
Following completion, each wagon was initially moved by road from the Shirebrook workshops of W H Davis using WHD in-house transport to the port of Immingham for onward shipment in batches of 20+ or 40+ to Mombasa. The voyage took some three weeks and during this time W H Davis engineers travelled to Kenya to meet the vessel, observe the unloading of the wagons and subsequently effect extensive on-site training of the designated Magadi personnel.
The wagons were delivered on time and on budget.
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