FirstGroup’s freight business GB Railfreight (GBRf) has unveiled the first of a fleet of coal hopper wagons being built for its recently won coal contracts. The first wagon was rolled out at the Arad, Romania factory of wagon builder IRS in February 2007.
 
IRS are building 72 high capacity HYA wagons for GBRf, who have signed two major coal contracts in the past four months. GBRf’s wagons will be able to move anywhere on Britain’s rail system thanks to their low track force wheelsets.
 
Ashley Stower, GBRf’s Head of Business Development and Marketing said: “I am delighted to see the first of these wagons on the rails. I am convinced our recently won coal contracts are just the start. We are determined to develop GBRf into a major force in the UK’s largest bulk freight market.”
 
GBRf won its two coal contracts in less than a year. The first, with Drax Power Limited, is for the movement of imported coal from the Port of Tyne to Drax power station near Selby North Yorkshire. This is due to begin during April 2007. The second, for coal from the Port of Hull to Cottam and West Burton power stations in Nottinghamshire for EDF Energy, will start in July 2007.