VTG Rail UK has completed the delivery of the initial batch of 34 new HOA hopper wagons to Mendip Rail. These wagons, part of a larger order of 203 units, were manufactured at Greenbrier’s facility in Poland and arrived at Whatley Rail Sidings on August 5th. The delivery process will continue through Autumn and up to May 2025.
This investment aims to replace Mendip Rail’s aging LTF and O&K JHA hopper fleets, which have been in service for nearly 35 years. Each new hopper wagon has a capacity to carry 77 tonnes of aggregate, facilitating the transportation of up to 200,000 tonnes of aggregate weekly from quarries in the Mendip Hills.
The limestone transported from these quarries is primarily used in construction and infrastructure projects in London and the South-East. Mendip Rail's 'jumbo trains,' consisting of 40-50 hopper and box wagons, significantly reduce the number of HGV road journeys, alleviating congestion and contributing to environmental savings in the region.
Mendip Rail, a joint venture between Heidelberg Materials UK and Aggregate Industries, moves approximately nine million tonnes of aggregate annually. The ability to transport limestone by rail removes up to 10,000 truck movements from rural roads each week, underscoring the environmental and logistical benefits of this rail operation.
