Hope Construction Materials invests in cement rail transportation

The UK’s Hope Construction Materials is investing £1 million in rail transportation from its Hope cement plant in Derbyshire. This includes the manufacture and long-term lease of 48 custom-made rail wagons.

Andy Watson, Deputy Rail Manager; Clive Roberts, National Logistics Manager; Frank Cooper, Team Leader, next to a tailor-made rail wagon.

The wagons are being manufactured by Feldbinder, Germany. They are due for delivery in autumn of this year. The wagons will distribute cement from the Hope plant to depots such as Theale, Dewsbury and Walsall, for onward road deliveries.

In line with the company’s focus on sustainability, the wagons will be made from aluminium, thereby reducing their weight and hence their fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Track-friendly bogeys, which enable the wheels to turn around bends more easily, will be utilised to help reduce noise levels.

“These new wagons will bring many benefits and help us achieve major improvements in our rail logistics operation. They will carry a much larger ‘payload’ – 80 tonnes in comparison with the current wagon payload of 36 tonnes – meaning fewer trains are required to achieve the same annual volume, resulting in reduced movements up and down the branch line between Hope Works and the mainline,” explains Ashley Bryan, Industrial Director of Hope Construction Materials.

“Fewer rail movements mean less impact on our neighbours around Hope Works which is very important to us given our commitment to maintaining a strong relationship with the local community. The improved wagon design also makes it easier for our operators to load and discharge cement, resulting in reduced manual handling,” adds Bryan.

“VTG is delighted to be working with Hope Construction Materials on this landmark investment scheme. Once again we are proud to be leading the way in the provision of innovative and sustainable wagon designs which give our customers the competitive advantage they need,” said Ian Shaw, Marketing and Sales Director of VTG UK Rail.

Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/22052015/uk-hope-construction-materials-invests-in-rail-transportation-893/