GB Railfreight (GBRf) moved its first loaded coal train on Thursday 22 March.

10 high capacity HYA wagons made their inaugural loaded journey as part of a planned trial from the Port of Tyne carrying coal to Drax power station in Yorkshire.

John Smith, GBRf’s Managing Director, said of the inaugural run: “This is a special day for GBRf; a new era for the company. “We shall offer Drax Power our usual quality service to the high standard that our other customers have grown to expect,” he added.

The wagons arrived in the UK from Romania earlier in the week. They are the first of an order for 72 placed with IRS in Arad.

Jonathan Moser, GBRf’s Business Development Director said: “I am delighted to see the first of these wagons here and to see the first ever GBRf hauled coal train running. This is the culmination of 12 months hard work and it is very pleasing to see the first trial train running as scheduled. I am looking forward to seeing the full complement here soon.”

The remainder of the wagons are scheduled to arrive at the port in batches of 10 each week over the course of the next 2 months.

The trains scheduled to operate under the GBRf contract are:
6H91 (SX) 22.24 Tyne Dock-Drax Power Station via Durham, Milford & Knottingley
4N91 (MSX) 04.20 Drax Power Station to Tyne Dock via Knottingley, York & Durham
6H94 (SX) 11.45 Tyne Dock to Drax Power Station via Sunderland, York & Milford
4N94 (SX) 19.30 Drax Power Station to Tyne Dock via Knottingley, York & Durham
6H93 (SX) 07.11 Tyne Dock to Drax Power Station via Sunderland, York & Milford
4N93 (SX) 14.30 Drax Power Station to Tyne Dock via Knottingley, York & Durham
6H90 (SX)2 0.24 Tyne Dock to Drax Power Station via Durham, Milford & Knottingley
4N90 (MSX) 01.20 Drax PS to Tyne Dock via Knottingley, York & Durham