VTG Rail UK has announced that on 1st January 2025, it will renew its agreement with construction material supplier Tarmac to lease 30 JGA-M tank wagons for a further five years.

In line with Tarmac’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and efficiency in rail freight operations, the wagons will be retrofitted with VTG’s innovative iWagon technology.

That benefits rail operators with improved safety measures through real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities and increases efficiency by optimising wagon utilisation and reducing downtime.

The iWagons are fitted with Axle Lock Detection and Wheel Flat Prevention (WFP) technology that monitors wheelset slide and brake condition.

To provide power to the Wheel Flat Prevention system, each wagon has four axle-end generators that also provide power to digital real-time maintenance, temperature monitoring, and harmonics frequency monitoring functionality.

Taking part in a trial of the wagons and the subsequent renewal of their lease allows Tarmac to further its ambition to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions across its operations.

Combining smart monitoring and maintenance technologies, Tarmac believes it can take strides towards a greener and more efficient supply chain.

This latest agreement reinforces the strong collaboration between VTG Rail UK and Tarmac while highlighting both companies’ dedication to advancing innovation and sustainability within the rail freight industry.

The JGA-M wagons have a gross laden weight of 101.6 tonnes and are used to transport powdered cement from Tarmac’s cement plant at Dunbar in Scotland and Tunstead Quarry at Buxton in Derbyshire.

Tarmac has over 60 sites throughout the UK connected to Britain’s rail network. It is one of the country’s largest users of rail freight, and each year, it transports approximately nine million tonnes of high-quality construction materials to support regional and national infrastructure projects.

By retrofitting VTG’s iWagon technology, Tarmac has taken a major step forward in integrating smart systems into its rail operations. Last year, it was a key partner in a four-month trial where three modified VTG JPA tank wagons underwent testing on Tarmac’s daily service from Dunbar to its Seaham depot in County Durham.

With rail freight being central to Tarmac’s efforts to drive sustainability and reduce carbon emissions, renewing the lease and retrofitting wagon technology will help it improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of its rail operations.

Tarmac currently has a five-year contract with GB Railfreight to transport its aggregate materials by rail, including the supply of hopper and box wagons.

“The renewal of this lease demonstrates the value of the long-standing partnership between VTG Rail UK and Tarmac. Retrofitting these wagons with iWagon technology reflects our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence in rail freight.”

Marc Hurn, Interim Managing Director of VTG Rail UK

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