The UKs very first aluminium bogie cement wagons have celebrated their first year of service this month, having moved more than 150,000 tonnes of cement in the 12-month period from April 2008 2009 for Hanson Cement, which changed its name from Castle Cement in March to reflect its position as a division of Hanson UK.
The wagons were introduced to Britain by VTG Rail UK, a subsidiary of VTG Aktiengesellschaft (SCN: VTG999), Europes leading wagon hire and rail logistics company. VTG Rail UKs ten year contract with Hanson marked the return to rail transportation for the cement provider from its Ribblesdale plant, and in the twelve months since they entered service the wagons have already saved the equivalent of around 5000 lorry journeys.
Running three times a week from Hansons production unit near Clitheroe in Lancashire, to its storage and distribution centre at the Mossend Railhead near Glasgow, the cement trains carry an average of 1040 tonnes compared to just 29 tonnes per lorry. With every tonne of freight carried by rail producing at least 80% less carbon dioxide than by road this also represents considerable savings in terms of the amount of C02 released into the atmosphere.
Rob Brook VTG Rail UKs Managing Director said: Hanson wanted a more environmentally friendly way of transporting cement to Scotland. The wagons we provided, with their innovative aluminium body construction to minimise tare weight and high performance pressure discharge system are able to carry far greater volumes, more efficiently, than their road counterparts. We are very pleased that the wagons have made such a big contribution to reducing road traffic and look forward to the good work continuing in the years to come.
Hanson Cements Managing Director Jon Morrish said: As the UKs leading supplier of heavy construction materials we move over 3 million tonnes of aggregates and cement by rail every year. We have been very pleased with the performance of these wagons.
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