New VTG hoppers arrive in the UK to make sand transportation more efficient
Birmingham, 11 August 2009.
Nine brand new open hopper wagons have arrived in the UK this week, which form part of a long-term, ‘new for old’ lease agreement between wagon providers VTG Rail UK, a subsidiary of VTG Aktiengesellschaft (SCN: VTG999), Europe’s leading private wagon hire and rail logistics company and Somerset based aggregates transporter, Mendip Rail.
A total of 20 new wagons will be supplied under the terms of the deal, which will see VTG replace Mendip’s elderly “Dagenham Sand” hopper fleet with brand new, high capacity, track-friendly vehicles painted in Mendip Rail’s distinctive silver livery.
The wagons will carry sand from Dagenham to depots in Acton, Brentford and Theale, where it will primarily be used by the construction industry, including ready mix concrete suppliers. The sand is supplied loose, and along with imported coarser aggregates, is bagged on site for supply to local builders merchants and other trade customers.
The new 102 tonne gross laden weight wagons will offer an increase in capacity, enabling Mendip Rail to move more material using fewer trains, thus giving important cost savings through lower fuel usage
They have also been specifically designed to offer big improvements in terms of vehicle longevity. Given the high moisture and salt content of this sea-dredged product, the hoppers have a new lining material to improve corrosion resistance and improve the life span of the vehicles.
Pneumatically operated discharge doors with independent control circuits and purpose designed edge seals, mean that product is carried securely and unloading can be carried out in an effortless and controlled manner.
Ian Shaw, Bulk Fleet Sales Manager at VTG Rail UK said: “Mendip Rail is one of VTG’s largest and longest standing customers, and is responsible for moving between five and six million tonnes of quarried aggregates by rail from Somerset alone, giving huge environmental benefits relative to the road alternative. We are delighted to be building on such an important business relationship by further expanding their wagon fleet in this crucial market sector.”
Alan Freemantle, from Mendip Rail said: “These purpose built wagons for the haulage of sea-dredged sand and gravels, will provide a long-term solution to the safe transport of products with a high moisture content. They augment the extensive fleet of high capacity box wagons Mendip Rail already hire from VTG.“
The remaining 11 hoppers are due for delivery over the next few weeks.
Ends
About VTG:
VTG Aktiengesellschaft is one of Europe’s leading wagon hire and rail logistics companies. The company has the largest private wagon fleet in Europe. Globally the fleet consists of about 50,000 rail freight cars with a focus on tank cars and state of the art high capacity freight cars and flat cars. In addition to the hiring of wagons, the Group offers global tank container transport and comprehensive multi-modal logistics services mainly around rail transport.
With the combination of its three interrelated divisions Wagon Hire, Rail Logistics and Tank Container Logistics VTG offers its clients a high-performance platform for international transport of their freight. The Group has many years of experience and specific know-how in particular in the transport of liquid and sensitive goods. Its customers include numerous well-known companies from almost all industrial sectors such as, for example, chemicals, mineral oil, the automobile or paper industries.
In the financial year 2008 VTG generated operating revenues of EUR 608.7 million and an operating result (EBITDA) of EUR 156.4 million. Via its subsidiaries and affiliates the company, which has its head office in Hamburg, is mainly present in Europe, Asia and North America. As at 31 December 2008 VTG employed 1,004 employees worldwide in consolidated companies. Since June 2007 VTG AG has been listed on the official Prime Standard market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange – since September 2008 also on the SDAX (SCN: VTG999).
Press contact:
Andrea Geeson Communications Manager
Telephone: 01444 473588
E-Mail: andrea@woodhousecommunications.co.uk
