Direct Rail Services (DRS) is bringing a fleet of twenty-five new JNA-Z box wagons into traffic.

DRS has obtained the wagons from VTG Rail UK. WH Davis built the fleet at its Shirebrook facility near Mansfield in Derbyshire, and Nuclear Transport Solutions‘ (NTS) rail division DRS will operate them. 

Each of the new wagons has a gross laden weight of 101.6 tonnes and a tare weight of 24.2 tonnes, giving a payload of 77.4 tonnes.

The addition of these twenty-five wagons means that DRS is now using one hundred and forty wagons leased from VTG Rail UK.

All previous hires involved intermodal wagons, so this latest acquisition diversifies the portfolio.

VTG Rail UK will also maintain the wagons, which are due to enter traffic soon.

VTG is Britain’s largest private freight wagon leasing company, and also supplies operators, including GB Railfreight.

Last year, it began trialling Britain’s first digital freight wagon.

“We had the privilege of attending WH Davis’s Shirebrooke site to witness the collection of these 25 newly built JNA-Z box wagons. It’s great to see these wagons coming off the production line and into service for our valued customer DRS, for whom these wagons will become part of a wider fleet supplied by VTG, further cementing a positive working relationship between our companies.

“VTG works closely with operators across the UK rail network to ensure timely and safe delivery of goods and we are delighted to see these brand-new wagons in service.

“It’s good to work with WH Davis and support UK manufacturing whilst also delivering a robust set of wagons for our customer. We look forward to seeing these wagons entering service with DRS.”

Archie Lucas, VTG Rail UK Sales Manager

“These new wagons are an excellent addition to our portfolio and will enable us to provide new services to our customers. 

“These are very exciting times, and the wagons offer a huge amount of flexibility, not to mention that each train we operate can take up to 60 lorries from the roads and offer CO2 savings of 76% when compared to road transport.”

Gottfried Eymer, NTS Managing Director for Rail