The multi-million-pound deal will see Wabtec provide planned preventative maintenance and failure repair for 720 wagons, 570 of which are owned by Wascosa.

Wabtec will undertake the repair work at their Doncaster site and, alongside the preventative maintenance and failure repair work, will also overhaul wheelsets for the Wascosa wagons. The fleet of wagons are mixed and include FEA, MLA and JNA type and will be used by Network Rail as part of its 10-year infrastructure modernisation plan which will be overseen by Wabtec UK’s Doncaster team and will co-ordinate with GB Railfreight and Network Rail and will guarantee effective maintenance planning.

The Wabtec team will carry out measuring in-contract performance, administration and storage of a material float of wheelsets, bogie frames and air brake equipment whilst also providing a 24/7 year-round call-out service.

Network Rail’s Local Distribution Centres (LDCs) throughout the country will see the mobile maintenance team maintain units.

Wabtec UK’s substantial experience in the freight sector will provide GB Railfreight with excellent ongoing support with primary roles such as final assembly, maintenance and deployment of the new modular wagon systems.

Garry Mowbray, Vice President of Regional Services UK – Wabtec, said:

“This is a superb team effort by all involved and provides further evidence of Wabtec UK’s well-earned
and justifiable reputation within the freight sector. I am confident that our skilled
maintenance teams will provide the robust support and responsiveness that GB Railfreight
will deservedly expect”.

David Golding, Asset Director of GB Railfreight, said:

“With their wealth of experience and long, reputable history of successfully managing wagons, the award of our contract to Wabtec UK will come as positive news to the freight industry. We have full confidence in the ability of their maintenance teams and look forward to working with them in support of our customers.”