The prototype JNA-X Box Wagon, which has now successfully completed the audit and inspection process, is the first to roll off the production line in Romania.
It is part of the agreement for 50 new box wagons announced in March this year between Porterbrook, GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Greenbrier.
The delivery of the box wagons to the UK will take place in two batches later this year, with the first due to arrive in September and the second in October.
The wagon, which is fitted with ‘track-friendly’ bogies, has been designed to optimise the tare weight, volume capacity, and payload with the shortest wagon length over buffers for the bulk materials it will transport. The box structure is fabricated from high strength steel to provide structural reliability and longevity over the life of the wagon.
According to Porterbrook, with each tonne of freight transported by rail producing 76% less carbon than road haulage, the new box wagons will support the ‘green recovery’ and help to deliver a more sustainable railway.
Mark Wyborn, head of Freight at Porterbrook, said: “This partnership demonstrates Porterbrook’s long-term commitment to investing in rail freight. The successful production of the prototype JNA-X Box Wagon is all the more impressive because of the challenges the team has had to overcome, including significant disruption in the supply chain.
“It is testament to the strength of our partnership with GB Railfreight and Greenbrier that we’ve worked together and agreed ways to mitigate those challenges and keep delivery of the box wagons on track.”
David Golding, asset director at GBRf, said: “We’re excited to take delivery of the first of the new JNA-X Box Wagons next month. This new rolling stock, alongside other investments made by GBRf, continues to demonstrate our commitment to reducing our emissions and supporting the government’s net zero ambitions. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to help look for opportunities to decarbonise our industry.”
John Brown, head of UK Sales at Greenbrier, commented: “We were thrilled that Porterbrook and GB Railfreight had chosen to extend its partnership with Greenbrier Europe which goes back more than 15 years.
“This partnership and cooperation during these unprecedented times where steel and energy costs have more than doubled is evidence of our long-term commitment to supply these box wagons to our customers on time.”
