GBRf agrees lease on new Ecofret wagons

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GB Railfreight has confirmed a five-year lease with VTG Rail UK Ltd for 18 Ecofret triple-platform wagons.

The triple-platform wagon will allow the operator to maximise the number of 40 ft containers it can carry, giving it the option of transporting two 40 ft boxes on the outer platforms, and two 20 ft boxes or a third 40 ft container on the inner platform.

With customers preferring the 40 ft containers, Ecofret wagons should allow GBRf to reduce the amount of empty space that can be left on standard 60 ft wagons.

GBRf has conducted an 18-month trial with a single Ecofret unit. A further 17 triple sets will be delivered from November.231112_ 167 copy (Linked In) (1)

John Smith, managing director of GB Railfreight, said: “The growing dominance of 40ft containers in the deep-sea market, infrastructure improvements at the Port of Felixstowe and changing train length regulations all mean that freight transportation demand is changing in the UK. We want to make sure we adapt to this changing environment and improve our productivity.

“Nevertheless, the freight industry as a whole still needs support from the Government if it is to effectively capitalise on these developments. Further improvements to the Felixstowe-Nuneaton route is particularly vital if the maximum level of service efficiency is to be achieved.”

Rob Brook, managing director of VTG Rail UK Ltd, said: “VTG is particularly pleased that the award winning benefits that Ecofret brings to the maritime container freight market have been recognised by such a key player in this sector as GB Railfreight.

“Ecofret has been recognised as having the potential to change the economics of the UK’s intermodal container rail freight market and is a prime example of the type of innovation needed if we, as an industry, are to meet the increasing demand predicted in this key sector whilst making the most efficient use of the network capacity available.”

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