New HOA hoppers for Mendip Rail

VTG Rail UK has completed the delivery of the first batch of 34 out of 203 new HOA hopper wagons to Mendip Rail. The wagons, which were built for VTG at Greenbrier’s works in Poland, arrived at Whatley Rail Sidings on 5 August, with the remaining wagons scheduled for completion and delivery throughout Autumn and up to May 2025.

The order forms a substantial investment with the new HOA hoppers destined to replace the aging LTF and O&K JHA hopper fleets which have been in operation for Mendip Rail since they were built almost 35 years ago.

With up to 200,000 tonnes of aggregate moved by rail from quarries in the Mendip Hills every week, each new hopper wagon has the capacity to carry 77 tonnes of aggregate. Much of the limestone transported from the quarries is moved by Mendip Rail’s ‘jumbo trains’ for use in construction and infrastructure projects in London and the South-East. 

These mammoth trains typically consist of a mixture of between 40 - 50 hopper and box wagons, which equates to over 150 HGV road journeys. When the train reaches London, it is split for onward journeys to different locations across the South-East, creating massive environmental savings compared to road and easing congestion on London’s busy road network.

Joe Grady, Sales & Account Manager at VTG Rail UK said: “Delivering this first batch of HOA hopper wagons marks a significant milestone in our on-going partnership with Mendip Rail. These state-of-the-art wagons are a testament to our commitment to modernising rail freight transport, ensuring efficiency, and reducing environmental impact. We look forward to seeing the positive effect these wagons will have on both the rail network and the communities they serve.”

Mendip Rail, a joint venture between Heidelberg Materials UK and Aggregate Industries, moves approximately nine million tonnes of aggregate each year from quarries in the Mendip Hills. Being able to move the limestone that is quarried from the hills by rail removes up to 10,000 lorry movements from this rural area’s roads very week. As a strategic partner, VTG offers its customers climate-friendly transport solutions by rail and is thus actively driving forward the decarbonisation of the economy.