On 5 August, the first of the HOA hopper wagons built for VTG by Greenbrier in Poland arrived at Whately station. These new HOA hopper wagons will replace the ageing LTF and O&K JHA models that have been in service with Mendip Rail for almost 35 years. The remainder of the order will be completed and delivered by May 2025.
Mendip Rail transports up to 200,000 tonnes of aggregate from quarries in the Mendip Hills each week. The new hopper wagons, which each hold 77 tonnes of material, significantly reduce the number of lorries on the road, replacing more than 150 road hauls. Aggregate from the Mendip Hills is used for construction and infrastructure projects in London and the south-east of England.
Mendip Rail, a joint venture between Heidelberg Materials UK and Aggregate Industries, transports around nine million tonnes of aggregate each year, keeping up to 10,000 trucks off the region’s roads each week. As a strategic partner, VTG is actively promoting environmentally friendly transport solutions to help decarbonise the economy.