UK: Heavy Haul Rail has taken delivery of the last of 76 MWA-C box wagons for construction materials and other bulk traffic which have been produced by converting redundant HHA hopper wagons which were originally used to carry coal.
The project began in December 2024, with the work undertaken by WH Davis on behalf of Porterbook. The leasing company said the innovative design features a lighter, stronger and more durable body to maximise payload while reusing components from the original wagons including the bogies and brake equipment.
‘Delivering materials by rail offers significant carbon reduction and fuel savings compared to road freight because it would take 140 lorries to replace one of our jumbo heavy haul trains’, said Heavy Haul Rail CEO Dave Penney on April 1. ‘Giving the wagons a new lease of life was not only the more sustainable option, but it also supported the local economy because they were converted at UK-based firm WH Davis.’
