HTA WAGONS TO BE CONVERTED TO SHORTER HOPPERS
Published at 10:38 on Thursday 23rd November 2017
Tags: Wagons, Rolling Stock, HTA, HRA, Wagons, DB Cargo UK, WH Davis
The prototype HRA aggregate wagon conversion, No. 41.70.6723.001-7, is pictured while in the consist of a Peak Forest to Hope Street service. DB Cargo UK
DB Cargo UK has confirmed that it is working with Axiom Rail and WH Davis to convert 110 HTA former coal hoppers into HRA aggregate hopper wagons.
During the conversion one of the coal hopper bays is removed, reducing the length of the wagon by 20% of its original size from 17.76 metres to 14.35 metres. Despite the reduction in length, however, the gross weight each wagon can carry remains the same at 101.6 tonnes. This allows more wagons to be transported per train, increasing the potential payload tonnage for a full length train by 447 tonnes, based on a 22 HTA wagon set and a 27 HRA wagon set.
The engineering conversions are being carried out at both the Axiom Rail site in Stoke and the WH Davis site in Mansfield, following the conclusion of a successful five month trial of the prototype wagon
No. 41 70 6723 001-7, which has
been in service conveying aggregates from Peak Forest to Salford Hope Street.
DB Cargo UK has committed to re-engineering an initial 110 wagons and plans to have them in full service by the third quarter of next year.
